Skift Travel News Blog

Ethiopian Airlines has partnered with Boeing and ThinkYoung to launch a new school aimed at encouraging underprivileged African youth to pursue higher education in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The STEM School, which will be hosted at the Ethiopian Airlines Aviation University will offer a six-week curriculum with over 300 hours of classes and training.

The program is set to welcome 24 students – 50% of which will be female – from various regions of Ethiopia, with the initiative also set to offer a teacher training program in order to equip educators with the necessary tools to teach advanced STEM concepts. 

During the program, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of STEM, coding, and programming, while also learning essential soft skills like teamwork and problem-solving. Students will also be given the opportunity to shadow Ethiopian Airlines staff and receive mentoring throughout the program.

“We are delighted in our collaboration with Boeing and ThinkYoung to launch the STEM School initiative, which helps Ethiopian youths to succeed in education and in their future careers, primarily in aviation fields, and to become the next generation of innovators. We believe in going at a compatible pace with the speed of technology and being prepared for future demands. This cooperation and initiative will develop young people to meet the future needs of the fast-growing Ethiopian aviation industry,” said Mesfin Tasew, group chief executive officer at Ethiopian Airlines. 

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Hospitality technology company Mews is partnering with Saira Hospitality on a new staff training initiative aimed at transforming learning within the hospitality industry.

The new partnership will see five new hospitality schools created around the world, with the first school set to open in London in June 2023, followed by a pop-up in Amsterdam towards the end of the year. 

Mews will also work with Saira on integrating the key curriculum offering into their University platform, utilizing the industry-leading experience of both brands to offer access to learnings in essential hospitality skills including leadership, communication and emotional intelligence.

“Hospitality isn’t just about business; it also has a key role to play in education and building local communities,” said Paul Mooney, chief customer officer at Mews. 

“What’s so exciting about this partnership is that it can make a real difference to individuals while also helping our industry to create a new, enthused talent pool,” he continued.

Skift featured Saira Hospitality’s work and founder Harsha L’Acqua’s mission during our Skift Global Forum in 2019.

At the Skift IDEA Awards, we are looking for the projects that are defining the future of operations and other business outcomes, including those that create a positive impact for communities.

If you have an exciting project to share, head to the Skift IDEA Awards today and start your submission. The final deadline for entries is June 20, 2023.