(Posted 25th August 2026)
The annual program organized by Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing provides students
with training, job shadowing, career talks and field visits to aviation facilities.
Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing have successfully concluded the fourth edition of their
STEM School program, equipping grade 11 students with the skills and inspiration to
pursue careers in aviation and engineering.
Africa will need 75,000 new aviation professionals over the next 20 years, according to our 2026 Pilot and Technician Outlook. We’re investing now to build that talent pipeline.
In the fourth edition of the STEM School with Ethiopian Airlines, 28 high school students spent six weeks training for careers in aviation — digital skills, internships, behind?the?scenes visits to Ethiopian Airlines’ cargo and maintenance facilities, and mentorship from TeamBoeing and Ethiopian Aviation University.
Running from July 13th to August 21st at the Ethiopian Aviation University, the six-week
program provided participants — half of whom were young women — with over 300 hours
of immersive learning. The initiative, which draws students from all regions of Ethiopia,
combines rigorous classroom instruction with internships, mentorship sessions with
Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing professionals and field visits to aviation facilities.
The curriculum blended digital skills, including coding, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and
virtual reality (VR), with essential soft skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-
solving. Leveraging the operational expertise of Africa’s largest airline, students gained
firsthand exposure to Ethiopian Airlines’ cargo, maintenance, repair and overhaul and
Ethiopian Aviation University facilities for hands-on learning.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO Mr. Mesfin Tasew said: “Working on youth education is a
direct investment in Ethiopia’s future. This initiative prepares tomorrow’s leaders and
creative thinkers by equipping them with the essential skills needed to succeed in a rapidly
changing world. We are honored to see these talented young people succeed, and we are
confident that they will play a vital role in shaping industries. We also thank Boeing for
partnering with Ethiopian Airlines on such important initiatives.”
For students like Yoftahe Belete, an 18?year?old, the program opened doors to the industry:
“We observed how airplanes are maintained, undergo multiple inspections, and how
technicians take care of them.”
“At a time when Africa will need an estimated 75,000 new aviation professionals over the
next 20 years, Ethiopia’s rapid expansion of fleet, network and infrastructure is setting the
pace,” said Henok Teferra Shawl, Boeing managing director for Africa. “Through our STEM
School with Ethiopian Airlines, we are building a connected community of future leaders
ready to write the next chapter of aviation growth in Ethiopia and across the continent.”
Alumni engagement is a program staple: participants from prior cohorts return each year to
share knowledge and foster peer support.
The STEM School extended beyond the classroom with educational visits to the National
Palace Museum, the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University and the Ethiopia
Science Museum. At the Science Museum, students interacted with a permanent
aerospace exhibit featuring a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight simulator, a replica of the
Starliner spacecraft and detailed models of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the
International Space Station’s Cupola module.
Delivered annually since 2023, the STEM School has now empowered more than 100
Ethiopian students, including 28 young people in 2026. The program is held in close
coordination with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, ensuring a transparent selection
process and alignment with the nation’s priorities in science and technology education.
