Education Partnerships
EMC believes access to education can have a transformational impact on people around the world, as well as on society at large. In developed countries, we support programs that encourage students, particularly from underrepresented groups, to pursue programs in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Globally, we help communities gain access to the education and IT resources needed to succeed in the global information age. In 2011, we supported education programs in 29 countries, and hope to extend the reach of these programs and partnerships in 2012. For instance, we are planning to expand our partnership with the Vex Robotics’ Education & Competition Foundation to several international locations.
The VEX Robotics Competition offers unique and challenging games that put middle and high school students’ engineering and technology skills to the test. Students, with guidance from teachers and mentors, work in teams to build innovative robots for competitions in regional and national tournaments.
We are launching a pilot program with Vex robotics and our COE in Cork, Ireland in 2012, which will serve as a model for other EMC locations in the future.
Read below to learn more about the impact of our education partnerships in 2011.
Americas
Transforming Communities One Student at a Time
Since 2009, EMC has partnered with Citizen Schools to support afterschool programs for lower-income middle school students and cultivate their interest in science, technology, engineering and math. We support Citizen Schools programs in Massachusetts, North Carolina and California through financial donations and employee volunteer time.
Each semester, employees serve as “Citizen Teachers” and teach “apprenticeships” that guide students in various engineering and science projects. Past topics have included aviation, electrical engineering, and how to build a radio and computer. In some locations, we have invited students to visit and tour our manufacturing facilities.
In 2011, nearly 140 employees volunteered to teach eight apprenticeships, reaching more than 530 students in California, Massachusetts and North Carolina.
Promoting Literacy and Inclusive Education
In Brazil, EMC has supported the work of Alfasol, an organization committed to improving literacy around the world. Since 2008, our financial contributions and employee volunteer time have helped provide programming for more than 500 adults in underserved areas of Rio de Janeiro.
We also support Diversa, an organization that strives to ensure disabled children in Brazil receive quality education. Since 2011, EMC funding has helped provide education programs and resources to students, parents and teachers.
Asia Pacific & Japan
Providing Hands-on Learning Experiences
Our Center of Excellence (COE) in China sponsors Junior Achievement’s Management and Economic Simulation Exercise (MESE) program. The computer simulation competition enables students to create "companies" and vie against one another as they manufacture products and bring them to market.
The competition teaches students about the fundamentals of business and economics. Students determine product price, invest in manufacturing equipment, estimate production levels, and plan marketing and R&D budgets.
In 2011, 16 EMC employees volunteered to teach in the MESE program at nine universities in Shanghai. Following the competition, the students were invited to tour EMC's local facilities.
Making Dreams Reality
In 2009, EMC launched the “Dream Library” campaign in Korea, in partnership with the Association of Community Centers for Children. Through the campaign, we donate books, laptops and other learning resources to community centers in underserved parts of Seoul. Employees also volunteer their time to educational activities at the centers.
In 2011, more than 40 RSA and EMC employees volunteered at the JARAM Community Child Center in Seoul to deliver 800 new books and build book shelves for more than 150 children who visit the Center. The children prepared a dance performance to express gratitude to the volunteers.
Europe, Middle East & Africa
Giving a Second Life to EMC Equipment
EMC Engineer Martin O’Flaherty’s 2010 Innovation Showcase idea became reality in 2011 when EMC partnered with Cork Institute of Technology’s (CIT) Science for Life program to donate the company’s test lab equipment to schools in the community. Flaherty’s idea extended the useful life of EMC’s testing equipment; provided an opportunity for EMC employees to volunteer and offer their expertise; and reinforced EMC’s support for STEM programs.
In 2011, EMC Ireland collaborated with CIT to develop an innovative pilot program in two Cork schools. We hope to expand the program and encourage participation by other companies in Ireland.
Bringing ICT Training to Rural Communities
In Kenya, we are working to advance computer literacy by supporting the ZOO Foundation, which provides Information Communications Technology (ICT) training to children and adults in rural Kenya.
In 2011, EMC's contributions of funds to The ZOO Foundation enabled more than 4,200 children and adults to access computer labs and gain ICT training and development.