Honeywell India Technology Center (HITC) is currently helping over 600 local students learn science and technology. Backed by a R6.2 lakh contribution from Honeywell, volunteers are providing experiential learning to students. In this interaction, Simon Hobbs, senior director, HITC, tells FE?s Abhishek Chakraborty that they want to generate interest in science through exposing students to fundamentals by experiential learning. Excerpts:
What made you promote STEM education?
In line with US President Obama?s ?Educate to Innovate? initiative, Honeywell is committed to improving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education globally through a series of programmes designed to inspire the next generation of innovators. The school outreach initiative is a programme where Honeywell partners government-funded schools to advance STEM education in India. It focuses on generating interest in science by exposing students to fundamentals of science by experiential learning. The programme is delivered through workshops, exhibitions and science lab kits, the content for which has been designed to suit the academic curriculum.
Have you launched the pilot programme?
Yes, HITC launched the pilot through the Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School, a Haryana government-funded school, to impact class IX students before they choose their streams.
How will it help them?
It will help by offering early exposure to fundamentals of technology and science and an opportunity to work with Honeywell?s top technologists. We have also contributed R6,20,825 to this programme. We aim to reach out to over 600 students by partnering government-aided schools in Haryana.
Is it just about monetary contribution?
Not exactly. Besides monetary contribution, as many as 10 volunteers from HITC will be actively involved in driving this programme by holding workshops, exhibitions and working closely with the schools.