ABB South Africa in Collaboration with the University of Pretoria Announces STEM-Boosted EBIT Week 2025
In a bid to address the pressing need for a skilled workforce in the rapidly evolving technological landscape, ABB South Africa has taken a significant step towards promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education and youth development. The company's latest initiative, the Youth Empowerment Day, held at its Longmeadow campus in June 2025, is a testament to its commitment to shaping a stronger, more sustainable South Africa.
ABB's Youth Empowerment Day welcomed 75 learners and graduates from technical schools, offering them immersive exposure to technologies driving Africa's industrial transformation. The event, hosted in partnership with the University of Pretoria, was part of ABB's long-term commitment to building a diverse and sustainable STEM talent pipeline.
The four-day EBIT Week 2025, organised by the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (EBIT) of the University of Pretoria, served as a platform for Grade 10, 11, and 12 learners to delve into the practical and theoretical dimensions of engineering and technology. The program aimed to inspire and engage participants, providing them with exposure to industry environments [1][2].
During EBIT Week, learners visited ABB’s Digital Solutions Centre, where they engaged with advanced automation, virtual reality, and digitalization technologies central to the fourth industrial revolution. This hands-on experience helped equip young people with future-ready skills [1]. Participants also toured ABB's Demo Vehicles and attended motivational talks by ABB professionals and young graduates.
ABB's Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Cynthia Khoali, emphasized the importance of exposing young people to future technologies, stating that it can change their perspectives and unlock life-changing opportunities. She further asserted that the future of the country and continent lies in empowering young people with STEM skills [3].
The need is urgent to prepare young people with future-ready skills for a rapidly changing economy, with STEM subjects at the forefront of economic growth and innovation. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2023, Africa will need more than 23 million STEM graduates by 2030 to meet labor market demands [4]. This challenge is exacerbated in South Africa by shortages of engineers and declining enrollments in core science and mathematics subjects.
ABB remains committed to building not only technology but also the engineers, technologists, and innovators who will help shape a stronger, more sustainable South Africa. By engaging with students and providing exposure to advanced technologies, ABB helps address the skills gap in STEM fields, aligning with the Future of Jobs Report's emphasis on developing future-ready skills [1][2].
In addition to Youth Empowerment Day and EBIT Week, ABB hosts events for matriculants from Gauteng's Schools of Specialisation, further promoting STEM career paths among high school students [3]. ABB aims to help close the gender gap in technical fields by promoting greater access and awareness, particularly among young women.
Over its 20-year history, EBIT Week has impacted thousands of learners, and this year's edition empowered 302 more young minds to take their first steps toward meaningful futures in engineering, science, and technology. Through its various STEM-focused initiatives, ABB South Africa is reaffirming its role as a catalyst for skills development, diversity, and innovation.
- ABB South Africa recognizes the necessity of promoting STEM education and youth development to prepare the workforce for African industrial transformation, as demonstrated by its Youth Empowerment Day and partnership with the University of Pretoria.
- The University of Pretoria's EBIT Week initiative offers Grade 10, 11, and 12 learners an immersive experience in engineering and technology, aiming to inspire and equip them with future-ready skills through exposure to advanced technologies such as digitalization, automation, and virtual reality.
- As part of EBIT Week, ABB's Digital Solutions Centre provides a hands-on encounter with future technologies, crucial in the fourth industrial revolution, to bolster the STEM talent pipeline and align with the Future of Jobs Report's recommendations.
- ABB's Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Cynthia Khoali, underscores the significance of exposing young people to advanced technologies, emphasizing its potential to shift perspectives and open life-changing opportunities for them, especially in light of Africa's projected need for 23 million STEM graduates by 2030.
- ABB is dedicated to building not only technology but also a new generation of engineers, technologists, and innovators to drive South Africa's future growth and sustainability, which extends beyond the Youth Empowerment Day and EBIT Week to include events for Gauteng's Schools of Specialization, with a particular emphasis on bridging the gender gap in technical fields.
