Recently ranked “most improved state for business” in a national study, Alabama continues to attract industry and residents. But every industry needs a qualified and prepared workforce — and some that have made investments in the state are now looking to maximize their investments by helping to build the workforce they need.
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA), which opened in Montgomery in 2005, is taking strides to prepare local students for future careers in the automotive industry.
“HMMA wants our local students to be better prepared for the safe, well-paying jobs that are available in the automotive industry here in Alabama, especially opportunities we have here at HMMA,” says Scott Posey, manager of the public relations team at HMMA.
In its most recent effort to invest in local students, Hyundai partnered with Montgomery Public Schools (MPS) to develop and implement a middle school STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) unit based on automotive manufacturing. During the 2024 spring semester, 190 students at Montgomery’s nine middle schools participated in the course, culminating with their own creation of designs and prototypes for vehicles in 2050.
Building a Partnership
Hyundai has a history of working with the Montgomery Public Schools: The company launched its Hyundai Initiative for Robotics Excellence (HIRE) in January 2020, establishing robotics teams at all middle schools in the Montgomery school system.
“HMMA and MPS have been noble partners on other STEM-related initiatives like our Hyundai Initiative for Robotics Excellence, and this was the obvious next step,” Posey says. “Even if students who take the course elect to work in another industry, the skillsets the course will teach them will still make them more successful, no matter where their passions may lead them.”
MPS already had a partnership in place with Ed Farm, a Birmingham-based nonprofit digital education provider, to develop and teach Introduction to Innovation, a STEM course approved by the Alabama State Department of Education. The new Hyundai-sponsored unit became a nine-week portion of Introduction to Innovation, with Ed Farm experts developing and implementing the curriculum.
“It was a privilege to collaborate with Hyundai on our Future of Mobility Unit,” says Samantha Swanigan, Montgomery-based student fellows specialist at Ed Farm. “During this unit, students were tasked with applying design thinking principles to develop and present innovative mobility solutions for humans living in the year 2050.”
Driving Design Thinking
How do middle schoolers design vehicles of the future? They start by learning about research and design practices, as well as how to use modern technologies.
“The course uses challenge-based learning, which allows students to develop the skills they need to be able to use on-demand technology to tackle real-world challenges,” Swanigan says. “By collaborating with Hyundai, our students gained exposure to cutting-edge technologies and industry standards, preparing them for automotive design and manufacturing careers.”
For example, the students got an introduction to modern manufacturing at Hyundai, automation in manufacturing, and how to use immersion technologies. In one wildly popular activity, the students had to create models of their proposed vehicles using candy and straws to test aerodynamics.
Throughout the unit, students unpacked critical concepts in the research, design and manufacturing phases — ergonomics, robotics, emerging technologies such as VR, AR, AI, computer-aided design/modeling technologies, safety standards and aerodynamics, Swanigan says. Students also explored sustainability, particularly renewable energy sources such as the hydrogen fuel cell battery and green manufacturing processes implemented by HMMA.
“Experiences like these inspire the next generation of innovators and change-makers, fostering a culture of creativity and problem-solving in our community,” Swanigan says.
As the students learned about design and manufacturing concepts, they were challenged to design vehicles that would help meet the needs of people in the future. Working in teams, they used AI to provide renderings of their designs, and they were required to develop prototypes, test their designs and create a pitch describing the problems their vehicles would solve.
“Through prototyping and testing, students developed practical skills in digital design tools and manufacturing techniques, enhancing their employability in the local automotive industry,” Swanigan says.
Through a school-based competition, the five top teams were selected from all 21 teams across nine middle schools. Those five teams presented their pitches at the Hyundai facility for HMMA employees and MPS staffers, including Superintendent Dr. Melvin Brown. “The opportunity to present their prototypes to Hyundai’s automotive engineers and industry professionals provided invaluable real-world feedback, enriching students’ understanding of industry expectations,” Swanigan says.
The team that won first place honors was from Floyd Middle School. They developed a prototype for a vehicle that would be capable of driving autonomously to help people in wheelchairs with transportation. The second-place team hailed from Southlawn Middle School. Their design was for a flying vehicle intended to avoid hectic traffic and prevent accidents.
“The whole experience is a really hands-on process for the students,” Swanigan says. “They’re also learning that employers like Hyundai are right here in their community, and they can use these skills and technologies without ever leaving Montgomery.”
Looking Ahead
The Hyundai-sponsored STEM program is scheduled to be offered again during the fall semester of 2024, and Hyundai hopes to continue the partnership with Montgomery Public Schools. It’s too soon to say whether the program could expand to other schools, but Posey isn’t ruling it out.
“Our Hyundai Initiative for Robotics Excellence initially began by creating robotics teams in Montgomery Public Schools and since then has been expanded to Autauga County Schools and this year to Selma Public Schools,” Posey says. “So never say never! If students, parents and schools continue to show enthusiasm for the course, who knows. We’re all about spreading the wealth of knowledge.”
Nancy Mann Jackson is a Madison-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
This article appears in the September 2024 issue of Business Alabama.
