At the Grantmakers for Education Annual Conference 2025, held in Memphis, USA, Erika Bienek, Chief Community Relations Officer at the Techint Group, took part in the session “Global Lessons: Career Pathways in a Rapidly Changing World,” alongside Dr. Paul Herdman, President & CEO of Rodel, and Beth Henderson from the International Coaching Federation.
The Grantmakers for Education (GFE) conference is a leading forum that fosters learning, collaboration, and connection among organizations committed to advancing more equitable and innovative education systems. This year marks the 30th anniversary of its annual gathering, which serves as a platform for sharing ideas, strategies, and experiences that shape the future of education.
Bienek’s participation focused on how the Techint Group co-designs educational initiatives with industry and education partners to address evolving industrial challenges. This collaborative approach—one of the key principles of the Group’s long-term social investment strategy—helps students from technical high-schools develop the Industry 4.0 skills, as well as the mindset required to thrive in today’s dynamic industrial environment.
“These conferences offer a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and reaffirm the direction, quality, and innovation of the Roberto Rocca Education Programs, which aim to promote equal opportunities and open new paths for the development of children and young people in our communities — placing technical education at the center as a key tool for building a possible future, and upholding effort, integrity, and merit as essential values for personal and community growth,” Bienek added.
Education programs that connect schools, communities, and industry
The Techint Group invests in education and culture as the cornerstone of its community-relations strategy, allocating USD 46.4 million in 2024 to initiatives that benefited more than 430,000 people across 21 countries. The Roberto Rocca Education Programs include:
- Roberto Rocca Technical Schools Network in Argentina, Mexico, and Brazil, offering full or partial scholarships to 1,944 students and providing hands-on vocational training through partnerships with local companies.
- Roberto Rocca Technical Gene program, which supported 11,073 students and teachers from 52 public technical schools across eight countries, strengthening math and Industry 4.0 skills.
- Roberto Rocca After School program, reaching 2,985 students from 27 public schools in seven countries, combining STEM, arts, and social-emotional learning.
- Roberto Rocca Scholarship Program, granting 3,445 high-school scholarships in 14 countries and 814 university scholarships in 17 countries, promoting equal opportunity and diversity in technical education.
Through initiatives like these and its collaboration with the GFE Conference, the Techint Group reaffirms its commitment to fostering equitable access to quality education and building bridges between schools, communities, and industry.
For more information about our educational programs, visit www.robertorocca.org/en .
