DiversityInc - July/August 2006

That’s enough to frighten many business leaders into funding educational programs, but there are other motivators: Giving back to the communities in which they serve yields substantial returns in terms of reputation, which plays an increasingly important role in consumers’ buying decisions and workers’ employment decisions.

Education arguably is the most important area for corporate philanthropic investment because of the desire for a highly skilled work force. Many businesses contend that today’s schools do not provide the highly skilled workers needed to compete globally.

That’s why 15 national business organizations led by the Business Roundtable last year formed a coalition to support action to reverse this backward slide. The 10-year goal of the initiative, “Tapping America’s Potential,” is to double the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded annually to U.S. students in science, technology, engineering and math.

The coalition, whose members include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Minority Business Roundtable, argue that “fewer and fewer students are pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and American students are performing at levels far below students in competitor nations on international standardized tests in these subjects.”

Government obviously is the primary force moving the country toward or away from improved public education. But because of their keen awareness of changing demographics and the increasing flatness of the world, progressive

companies are realizing that without prepared employees of all races, ethnici-ties and socioeconomic backgrounds, they will be unable to compete globally and create innovative products and services.

That was the crux of Siemens Medical Solutions President and CEO Thomas N. McCausland’s argument when he testified before the U.S. Senate in April.

“If we do not have the next generation of scientists, mathematicians or engineers, then who is going to develop the next life-saving cancer-therapy equipment?” he asked the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness. “Or ensure that we can meet the growing demand for energy in this country with the most efficient and environmentally friendly technology? Or provide enough clean drinking water for our families?”

Global Competition

During the past few years, Siemens, headquartered in Malvern, Pa., has launched a series of programs aimed at increasing interest in science and technology amongst the nation’s youth.

“We read so much about countries like India and China having more and more students graduating from college and, very specifically from Siemens’ point of view, [earning degrees] in math and science disciplines,” McCausland tells DiversityInc.

“This is a high-tech world. For us to be able to be competitive and
attract the talent we need, we need a bigger pool of educated kids coming

“If, as a country, we want to maintain our edge on the
global arena, we have to do eveything we can to keep up
with the growing global demand for scientific minds. That
means giving back and supporting our future employees.”

Thomas N. McCausland, president and CEO, Siemens Medical Solutions

out of high school, going into college and working in the corporate world.”

Siemens recently created a program to increase interest in math, science and engineering among fourth- and fifth-graders. As part of Siemens Science Days, employees located in all 50 states visit schools in their communities to show students what kind of work they do. Since the program’s inception in spring 2005, Siemens employees have reached 5,000 students in 13 states.

To encourage students in middle school to pursue science careers, the Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology awards about $750,000 in scholarships annually to students, with the top student winning a $100,000 college scholarship. Past winners include the inventor of a gyroscopic generator that uses the movement of ocean currents to generate electricity. The company also gives schools a $2,000 award for each project that makes it to the regional finalist level, reflecting Siemens’ belief that it takes dedicated teachers and supportive schools to create prepared students.