Month: August 2024

As the largest global provider of computing devices to Education, Lenovo believes it has a responsibility to invest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) learning for students everywhere. Investing in STEM education not only fulfills our corporate vision to provide smarter technology for all, but also creates future innovators who can help overcome the challenges the world faces today. Whether mitigating climate change, researching cures for disease, or exploring space, humankind’s boldest dreams require a strong and diverse pipeline of STEM talent.

In alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Lenovo global philanthropy focuses on reducing inequalities, quality education, and poverty reduction. The company and the Lenovo Foundation partners with charitable organizations, educational institutions, and civic groups to empower under-represented populations with access to technology and STEM education. In FY 2023/24 Lenovo made more than USD $21M in charitable impact through partnerships, programs and volunteerism.

Among the dozens of STEM programs funded by Lenovo worldwide in recent years include:

Girls Belong in Tech – a Lenovo initiative to help high school and middle school girls in the United States discover careers in the technology field.Solve Education – a program to promote access to a digital game-based learning environment on STEM and employability skills for low-income children in Southeast Asia.STEMintheCity – organized by Municipality of Milan, the program promotes STEM education, closing the gender gap in STEM-related professions, and dispelling cultural stereotypes.Becometech – as part of its annual Love On month of service, local Lenovo volunteers in Paris and the partnering organization delivered a month-long STEM discovery and free training program for teenage girls.WISE – Women in STEM entrepreneurship across Latin America is focused on diversifying the talent pipeline and bringing more women into STEM.African Storybook – looks at language, and specifically how a lack of exposure to the written word can impact education outcomes. Lenovo supports their mission to widen access to storybooks in the many languages of Africa to enhance children’s literacy and imagination.Children on the Edge – addresses the physical barriers to accessing education, working with refugee communities around the world to deliver educational tools and training to help create safe, protective environments where children can learn and thrive.

All around the world, NGOs and charitable organizations Lenovo partners with share an unwavering belief that science and technology can be a big force for good and there must be more equitable access to these fields so the world can benefit from a larger and more diverse pool of STEM talent.

STEM’s Uneven Playing Field

STEM education prepares students for careers in high-demand fields such as engineering, computer science, biotechnology, and healthcare. By equipping young people with technical skills and problem-solving abilities, STEM education contributes to a skilled workforce that drives innovation and economic growth.

However, women and minorities are frequently under-represented in STEM fields. Too frequently, cultural norms about suitable careers for women and underfunded schools in low-income communities result in diverting kids away from future STEM careers. The gender gap is striking, women represent 24% of the STEM workforce in the United States, 17% in the European Union, 16% in Japan, and 14% in India.1

The lack of diversity and inclusion in STEM is highly concerning because it limits the opportunity for individuals and communities by leaving them behind in the growing global knowledge economy. In addition, it hinders the pursuit of scientific knowledge and technological innovation by robbing the fields of so much unrealized talent. Moreover, the diversity of ideas and experiences by a heterogeneous group of innovators is critical for creating smarter technology for all.

This is why Lenovo has placed STEM education at the forefront of its philanthropic activities.

Supporting the Future of STEM Education

Lenovo’s support of STEM education is not just philanthropy, it’s part of our business. In addition to offering the widest portfolio of education ready devices for students at all levels, we also provide the software and services that support teachers and new pedagogies for STEM learning.

Lenovo EdTech Consulting Services are two pronged. Our strategic planning services support schools in creating a roadmap for digital transformation that addresses changing educational needs and focuses on student outcomes. Lenovo’s professional development services focus on educators’ digital skills development, pedagogy, and instructional design to help address the transformational challenges educators face when adopting new technologies in the classroom.

As educators worldwide look for resources to better prepare students for careers of the future, Lenovo is supporting the Intel® Skills for Innovation Initiative (SFI), and its mission to integrate technology into classroom learning. The initiative offers professional development resources for teachers to help them become leaders of technology-infused learning experiences and facilitators of future-ready skill building as well as a library of over 100 lessons that integrate emerging technologies across the disciplines.

Lenovo, the only global OEM partner to design content specifically for SFI, is offering six technology-focused starter pack lessons for educators. These standards-aligned lessons develop design thinking and computational thinking skill sets through modeling more sustainable cities, designing the laptop of the future, and designing racing bikes based on Lenovo’s collaboration with Ducati Corse, and using supercomputing to model DNA for cancer research.

Lenovo will continue to use its technology, expertise, and global reach to help level the playing field in education, provide more STEM learning opportunities to more children, and build a world with more scientists, innovators, and problem solvers.

Visit our website to learn more about Lenovo’s portfolio of education solutions.

1 MIT Professional Education – The Gender Gap in STEM: Still Gaping in 2023 

As seen on commonimpact.org

Charlotte Rocker and Dan Barnett might come from different worlds, but they share a common passion for making a difference. Charlotte, a dynamic product strategy lead at Novartis, is passionate about bringing innovative medicines to patients in need. On the other hand, Dan is a dedicated leader in the nonprofit sector, steering Students 2 Science (S2S) as the Chief Development officer to bring STEM education to students across New Jersey. Despite their different backgrounds, they crossed paths through a skills-based volunteering project organized by Novartis and Common Impact. This collaboration united their expertise and made a remarkable impact on the mission of S2S while laying the foundation for Charlotte to join S2S as a board member.

Charlotte’s Path to the Board of Directors

Charlotte was first introduced to skills-based volunteering through Novartis’s Flash Consulting Day of Service, where employees volunteered their skills to assist STEM-focused nonprofits in New Jersey. Charlotte reflected on this experience, saying, “I hadn’t previously heard of skills-based volunteering; once I learned about it, it felt like a powerful way for me to ‘give back’ some of the skills I’ve built in my career.”

Growing up in New Jersey and now raising her family there, Charlotte resonated with the mission of S2S. “I struggled in science and math and considered those subjects to be ‘not for me.’ It wasn’t until I got to college that I found my true passion for healthcare. I love the idea of helping young students connect to STEM earlier in their lives, with the hope that it can set them up for meaningful education and career opportunities.”

Charlotte’s involvement didn’t stop at volunteering for a day. Her leadership and passion for the mission led to her joining the S2S board of directors. Reflecting on this transition, Charlotte said, “I was surprised and flattered when Dan reached out to me. I am excited to continue supporting S2S long-term instead of just for one day. I hope I can continue to bring a strong external perspective that will challenge and support S2S during its next phase of growth”

Volunteers Support Students 2 Science’s Mission and Help Transform their Financial Approach

S2S is dedicated to inspiring, motivating, and educating students in STEM subjects while equipping them with the skills and opportunities needed for long-term success. The Novartis Day of Service provided a valuable step for the nonprofit to tap into corporate expertise to improve its operations and financial model. With a vision to expand their programs to impact 450,000 students annually, operating 3-5 technology centers in targeted areas, and developing curriculum aligned with future workforce needs, S2S is committed to ensuring that all students in New Jersey have access to vital STEM learning opportunities and career pathways.

Dan Barnett, reflecting on the experience, stated, “I appreciated the thoughtfulness and the time that the Novartis employees dedicated to our project during the Day of Service. The experience gave us an unbiased perspective on how we could improve our operations and financial model. An assessment of our current financial plan was essential to ensure viability, financial feasibility, and long-term sustainability,” Dan shared. “As a result of the event, Students 2 Science has already made several structural changes, with a complete overhaul of our fee-for-service model forthcoming.”

Dan also spoke highly of Charlotte, who was instrumental during the project. “Charlotte’s level of engagement and passion for wanting to help S2S achieve our mission and vision was impressive. As we look to expand our board of trustees with a greater focus on specific skills that would assist the organization, I knew that Charlotte would be a fantastic addition to the board,” he said.

Creating Lasting Connections through Skills-Based Volunteering 

Skills-based volunteering creates long-lasting connections. Volunteers like Charlotte sharpen and develop their skills by connecting to social causes they care about. Nonprofits, like S2S, expand their network and engage individuals they would not otherwise meet.

Dan Barnett observed, “we were fortunate to meet several individuals who shared a passion for our mission and want the nonprofit to continue to thrive, so I look forward to continuing to develop relationships with them.”

Charlotte summed up her experience by saying, “I never would have found S2S without this skills-based volunteering opportunity, so thank you!” This partnership exemplifies how bridging sectors through collaboration can lead to meaningful and enduring relationships that benefit both the volunteers and the nonprofits.

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