IEEE Education Week 2026 Expands Global STEM Access

April 9, 2026

IEEE Education Week returns 11-19 April with contests, online workshops, special offers and in-person events held around the world to celebrate IEEE educational opportunities for technology enthusiasts of all levels.

This year marks a special occasion: The 20th anniversary of IEEE TryEngineering, the global initiative focused on helping young learners discover the engineer within them.

Here, IEEE Senior Members Lorena Garcia and Stamatis Dragoumanos discuss the impact of IEEE Education Week, and what TryEngineering has planned for the celebrations.

“IEEE Education Week is a call to action for IEEE members and volunteers,” Garcia said. “These efforts are what truly bring STEM to life and inspire the next generation.”

What Is IEEE Education Week?

IEEE Education Week is a celebration of the educational opportunities offered by IEEE and its many organizational units, societies and councils around the world, each of which contributes programming that reflects the breadth of IEEE’s global community.

From pre-university outreach to advanced technical training, IEEE Education Week brings together contributions from multiple IEEE operating units, creating a diverse mix of learning opportunities that span disciplines, career stages, and geographies.

What Is TryEngineering Planning for IEEE Education Week?

TryEngineering’s goal is to raise awareness of engineering, computing and technology among students, and to inspire the next generation of engineers and technologists. Its track record is remarkable, reaching hundreds of thousands of students and tens of thousands of teachers around the world.

“It’s about supporting educators and volunteers so they can create those first moments of inspiration for young people,” said Garcia. “Through them, students begin to discover what engineering really is, beyond textbooks or stereotypes, by connecting learning with real-world challenges and seeing themselves as problem solvers.”

Among the many activities taking place throughout the week across the breadth of IEEE’s educational offerings, two sessions will highlight the power and impact of IEEE TryEngineering.

The first virtual session, Inspiring Tomorrow’s Innovators: How IEEE Educational Resources Can Open Pathways into STEM featuring 2026 IEEE President & CEO Mary Ellen Randall, will highlight how IEEE’s programs, including TryEngineering, connect young learners with real-world engineering experiences. The session will take place on Monday, 13 April at 12:00 p.m. EDT.

The second session, TryEngineering Volunteers Making an Impact in STEM, will showcase how volunteers use TryEngineering resources to create meaningful impact in their communities around the world. It will demonstrate how volunteers are bringing STEM to life in classrooms and communities globally, inspiring students to imagine what’s possible. The session will take place on 15 April at 11 a.m. EDT.

“Attendees of the IEEE Education Week workshops will benefit from a highly focused and impactful learning experience designed to both inform and inspire,” said Dragoumanos.

But a key benefit, he continued, lies in the opportunity to learn from the real-world experiences of IEEE volunteers who have successfully implemented TryEngineering programs.

How to Get Involved?

Getting involved is simple. Anyone interested can explore the TryEngineering resources and join the pre-university STEM community to connect with others and learn about ongoing initiatives.

Garcia mentioned that from there, they can participate in local activities, organize their own outreach efforts or apply for programs like the STEM grants.

Beyond TryEngineering, attendees can learn more about additional IEEE societies during Education Week, such as the IEEE Communications Society, or this session from IEEE EPICS and IEEE Standards Association (SA) on the ways that standards can be deployed for engineering service learning.

“The most important step is to start. Even small actions can make a meaningful difference in inspiring the next generation,” said Garcia.

Where Can People Learn More?

Check out the IEEE Education Week video and website to learn about all of IEEE’s offerings throughout the week. Or, subscribe to email updates at educationweek.ieee.org.