Ethiopian Airlines and Boeing have concluded the fourth edition of their STEM School programme, giving Ethiopian students practical exposure to aviation, engineering and technologies relevant to the industry’s future workforce.
Held from July 13 to August 21, 2026, at the Ethiopian Aviation University, the six-week programme brought together 28 Grade 11 students from across Ethiopia, with women making up half of the 2026 cohort. The students completed more than 300 hours of classroom and hands-on learning.
The programme included visits to Ethiopian Airlines’ maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, giving students an opportunity to see aircraft maintenance operations and learn about technical careers within the aviation industry.
The programme combined classroom instruction with job shadowing, internships, mentoring and facility visits. Students were introduced to coding, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR), alongside skills such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving.
Mesfin Tasew, Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said investment in youth education is an investment in Ethiopia’s future, highlighting the importance of developing skills for an aviation industry undergoing technological change.
The exposure to MRO operations forms part of a wider effort to introduce students to the technical roles required to maintain and operate aircraft. With aviation fleets becoming increasingly dependent on digital systems, automation and advanced technologies, familiarity with engineering and technology at an early stage could help build a future pipeline of technical talent.
Students also visited the Ethiopian Aviation University, Ethiopian Airlines’ cargo facilities, the National Palace Museum, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University and the Ethiopia Science Museum. The latter included an aerospace exhibition featuring a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight simulator, a Starliner spacecraft replica, NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and the International Space Station’s Cupola module.
Henok Teferra Shawl, Managing Director for Africa at Boeing, said Africa is expected to require approximately 75,000 new aviation professionals over the next 20 years, increasing the need for programmes that introduce young people to aviation careers and technical disciplines.
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The Ethiopian Airlines-Boeing STEM School programme was launched in 2023 and has now reached more than 100 Ethiopian students. Participants from previous editions have also returned to mentor new students, creating a continuing peer-learning network.
The programme is delivered in coordination with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education and focuses on science, technology and skills development. For the MRO sector, such programmes can provide early exposure to aircraft maintenance, engineering and emerging technologies that will increasingly shape the aviation workforce.
