World Youth Skills Day 2024

Ten years ago, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day to underline the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

This year, World Youth Skills Day focuses on "youth skills for peace and development", highlighting the potential of young people in addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development. It emphasizes the critical need to provide them with the skills and opportunities to contribute to a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable future.

La Fondation Dassault Systèmes supports education projects across Europe, India and US to empower young people with equitable access to training resources and first-hand experience so they can build the relevant hard skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) along with the soft skills needed to navigate these challenges and thereby contribute to a better world.

The ability to use digital technologies, including digital fabrication tools is essential to the future of work. Yet, these tools are traditionally inaccessible to most students and educators due to their high cost. The Fab Foundation, a leader in digital fabrication education and innovation, is addressing this challenge with their innovative Fab-in-a-Box project. Supported by La Fondation Dassault Systèmes in the US, this project aims to democratize STEM education by providing an affordable Fab Lab starter kit specifically designed for schools, libraries, and other educational settings.

The Fab-in-a-Box micro lab cart includes everything needed to introduce students aged 10 to 18 to digital fabrication, from a 3D printer and laser cutter to curriculum materials including tutorials and facilitator guides. This allows educators to easily integrate project-based learning into their classrooms, fostering the development of critical STEM skills and preparing students for the demands of the 21st-century workforce. The pilot program is currently underway, with plans for large-scale implementation to bring the power of digital fabrication to a wider audience and empower students from all backgrounds. 

Learn more about the Fab-in-a-Box project.

In France, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes supports the Dreaming a Future project, an initiative led by the French association Agir pour Apprendre (Learning through Action). This project is aimed at empowering students from disadvantaged backgrounds by breaking down educational barriers and self-censorship, and expanding their horizons.

Focusing on a group of 16 students enrolled in the electromechanics vocational program at the Théodore Monod high school, Dreaming a Future whisked them away on an inspiring field trip to Toulon in the South of France. Immersed in this new environment, students benefited from an exclusive visit of the Oreca factory, a renowned race car manufacturer, and the FORMED Campus for maritime training where they experience cutting-edge virtual reality technology in connection with their field of study. Additionally, they explored the Ifremer facility, France's esteemed Research Institute for marine science, encountering scientists and engineers and learning about the marvels of underwater robotics. Backed by mentorship from Dassault Systèmes volunteers, this project equips students with the knowledge, confidence, and role models they need to dream bigger and achieve their full potential.

Learn more about the Dreaming a Future project.

In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, the readiness of engineering graduates has been an ongoing challenge for the industry in India. Since 2021, La Fondation Dassault Systèmes has been addressing this gap through its ConnectNext program, which fosters close collaboration between the academic and industry worlds.

ConnectNext is designed to encourage emerging engineering talents across India. Through a well-designed curriculum, hands-on experience, and mentoring from Dassault Systèmes volunteers and industry experts, students work on real industrial projects using the latest innovative 3D technologies, from ideation to market delivery and usage. It gives participating students a chance to demonstrate their engineering skills, showcase their projects to catch industry attention, and gain proficiency in specific engineering roles via internship opportunities.

Learn more about the ConnectNext program.