The Future of the STEM and Manufacturing Workforce is HER

Abstract

This Capstone centers on Ford Motor Company’s BlueOval Learning initiative, a workforce development effort designed to prepare students in West Tennessee for careers in electric vehicle manufacturing. The project explores how school–industry partnerships can be strengthened to better support girls in STEM, addressing long-standing gaps in representation and access. Using a mixed-methods approach that included interviews, surveys, and document analysis, the study examined how current programs operate and where they fall short. The findings point to the need for early exposure, meaningful mentorship, and stronger infrastructure to ensure more girls can see themselves—and succeed—in the future of manufacturing.