AECOM champions the next generation of innovators this STEM Day
IN celebration of STEM Day 2025 on 8 November, global infrastructure leader AECOM is shining a spotlight on the bright young minds shaping South Africa’s engineering future and the initiatives that make their journeys possible.
Through bursaries, mentorship and university partnerships, the company continues to nurture a new generation of professionals equipped to design sustainable solutions for a rapidly evolving world.
Bursary students who became professionals
AECOM’s bursary programme continues to be a cornerstone of its talent development strategy, providing access to higher education for students from diverse backgrounds. Former bursary students such as Krisha Radia, Thomas Manzie, and Belinda Herbst have each transitioned from university to professional practice through AECOM’s structured mentorship and development initiatives.
For Radia, now a Candidate Structural Engineer, the bursary opened doors to both academic and professional growth. “The bursary programme created a pathway to mentorship, industry exposure and real project experience that shaped my career direction.”
Through coordinating AECOM’s job shadowing initiatives, she now mentors and aims to inspire learners herself, closing the loop of opportunity.
Manzie, who joined AECOM after completing his studies, describes the company as “a learning organisation” that allows employees to test, innovate and grow. “I was surprised by the freedom to explore new tools and methods,” he says. “That space to learn is where innovation thrives.” His experience reflects AECOM’s broader culture of curiosity and collaboration, where problem-solving and communication are as valued as technical proficiency.
For Herbst, an Engineer, AECOM’s support extended far beyond her studies. “The company encourages continuous learning through study leave, external training and AECOM University,” she notes. “It is about empowering us to keep improving.”
Herbst believes technology mastery, from AI and digital twins to climate resilience design, will distinguish the next generation of professionals, but she cautions that “communication and collaboration remain key to making those technologies meaningful.”
Promoting STEM engagement at schools and universities
AECOM’s long-term commitment to STEM development goes beyond individual bursaries. The company actively partners with schools and universities to create hands-on experiences and mentorship opportunities that demystify STEM careers.
These initiatives are driven by professionals such as Yvonne Bosch, Lizbe Henze and Qabilah Abramjee, who each help coordinate outreach and education programmes nationwide.
Bosch, an Associate Quantity Surveyor, highlights that AECOM’s youth development approach combines “practical exposure, experiential learning, and mentorship.”
Through job shadowing, speed networking and partnerships with organisations like Nzalo Careers, AECOM reaches learners from township and rural communities, introducing them to engineering, digital and quantity surveying disciplines.
One standout initiative, the Middelburg District Hospital project, included on-site technical training for young people, demonstrating how infrastructure projects can also drive education and empowerment.
Henze, an Engineer, adds that AECOM’s involvement with schools and universities “helps learners and students see real-world applications of what they study.” By engaging early and maintaining long-term relationships with participating schools, AECOM has seen measurable interest from learners pursuing STEM pathways year after year.
For Abramjee, a Professional Quantity Surveyor, AECOM’s culture of lifelong learning is central to its impact. From bursaries for postgraduate studies to mentoring young graduates, she believes AECOM’s greatest contribution lies in its inclusive environment. “Diverse perspectives lead to the best solutions,” says Abramjee. “Whether it is through AI and sustainable technologies or mentorship and outreach, our goal is the same, which is to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.”
Building a resilient STEM future
Across all responses, a common theme emerges in that AECOM’s belief that innovation, diversity and mentorship are inseparable. By supporting young South Africans through bursaries, training and exposure, the company is ensuring that the next generation of engineers, scientists and designers can meet the country’s complex environmental, economic and social challenges with creativity and confidence.
As STEM Day 2025 celebrates innovation worldwide, AECOM reaffirms its commitment to building opportunity one learner, one project and one idea at a time.
