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280 kids meet their role models on Toyota STEAM Day

To encourage young talents to become the next generation of innovators and problem solvers
03/05/2023
Diverse creativity in the STEAM field is key to our sustainable future. We invited young students to the Toyota STEAM Day – to come and see how our employees are enjoying their engineering jobs. What better way to inspire future talents who envisage a career in STEAM? 

Vision: “STEAM career for all talents”

Future careers in the STEAM*1 fields is open to all talents, regardless of their gender or background. Everyone has the potential to be the next generation of innovators and problem solvers! As part of our Girls STEM the Future programme, we organised the Toyota STEAM Day. The objective was to spark young students’ interest in pursuing a STEAM related education and career through the interaction with Toyota employees who are enjoying their engineering job. 
“With a number of interactive workshops, we want to encourage and motivate the young students to pursue a STEAM education. The focus is not just on learning difficult subjects such as maths and physics, there is more to it. We want to help the young generations develop curiosity and critical thinking, which are at the basis of innovation.”
Dr. Isotta Cerri, Head of Material Research & Development

Day full of discoveries

280 students and 20 teachers from 9 schools in Belgium*2 received an enthusiastic welcome from 65 Toyota role models and volunteers. Our young guests had a tour in our research and development facilities to be introduced to the latest technologies and innovations which are used in Toyota’s vehicle development. The students also experienced a number of interactive, hands-on workshops which Toyota employees in the STEAM area designed to open the young minds to the fun of STEAM - cherry on the cake! 
“We did 2 workshops – one was about agile way of working and in the other one we assembled our own hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars and tested them. It is interesting to see these. It opens our view towards the future.”
Noah Jimenez Lopez, European School of Brussels 2
“We learned many new things. It is interesting to get a view behind the scenes of Toyota R&D Centre.”
Lene and Merel, Go Atheneum, Tienen (Flanders, Belgium)
“As a STEM school, we are always looking for relationships with technology companies. The girls were particularly impressed because they saw that there are, for both women and men, so many career opportunities leading to so many different directions within Toyota.”
Wim Salien, Director for 2nd and 3rd degree,Damiaaninstituut
“Many young kids still believe the automotive industry is male driven. We wanted to break this stigma through this event. We tried to give youngsters an insight into the broad diversity of daily activities in our Technical Centre. It was very rewarding to see their enthusiasm – it gives us the drive to continue promoting STEAM amongst the young generation.”
Wesley Verschoren, Senior Manager R&D Powertrain Testing,TME
“I was honoured and proud to attend the STEAM day and meet so many young and energetic students who were inspired by the activities and lectures we had set up for them to learn more about Toyota. It filled me with optimism and hope to imagine the diverse future of mobility together with them - with women accounting for over 40%!”
Kylie Jimenez, Senior Vice President People & Innovation

*1 Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics
*2 Special thanks to our partners Vlajo (Vlaamse Jonge Ondernemingen) and LJE (Les Jeunes Entreprises) for their support

 

Toyota STEAM Day 2023

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