Last week on STEM Community Live, I was joined by Jessie Soohyun Park, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Samsung, and Becky Patel, Head of Education and Learning at Tech She Can, to explore a topic that feels more urgent than ever: how we break down barriers into STEM and technology, and how schools can help young people develop the skills they’ll need for a rapidly changing future.
At the heart of the conversation was Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, a free, tech-for-good education programme and competition for 11–18 year olds across the UK and Ireland, and the partnership behind it. https://solvefortomorrowuk.com/
Why diversity in STEM really matters
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was simple but profound: technology shapes everyone’s lives, so everyone needs a voice in shaping technology.
As Jessie explained, diverse teams drive better innovation, and at a time when technologies like AI are scaling rapidly, the risks of exclusion are growing. Becky captured this perfectly through a pupil’s words:
“Everybody should work in technology, because everybody uses technology.”
If the people designing systems, platforms and tools don’t reflect society, those technologies simply won’t work well for everyone.
The data reinforces this challenge. Despite growing demand for tech skills, participation and progression remain uneven, with stark gaps linked to gender, background and access to opportunity.
The real barriers start early
One of the most powerful insights came from Becky’s experience as a former teacher. When young children are asked what they want to be, their answers are limitless. As they get older, those aspirations narrow dramatically.
The problem isn’t a lack of ambition, it’s a lack of awareness.
Many students simply don’t know what careers exist, how broad technology really is, or how it connects to their interests. By the time careers advice appears at 16 or 18, it can be too late.
That’s why Tech She Can focuses on the whole pipeline, from early years through to post-16, helping teachers connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities, and challenging stereotypes before they take hold.
How Samsung and Tech She Can are tackling the challenge together
This partnership brings education and industry together in a way that genuinely supports teachers.
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is designed to:
- Show technology as a force for social good, not just technical skill
- Offer real-world context, mentoring and role models
- Remove barriers by being free, flexible and curriculum-aligned
This year’s competition themes are deliberately broad and inclusive:
- Smarter Sport – making sport more inclusive and accessible
- Greener Futures – tackling sustainability challenges
- Safer Online – addressing online safety through youth voice
These themes reflect issues young people care deeply about and provide natural entry points into STEM for students who might not see themselves as “techy”.
Alongside this, Tech She Can’s team of practising teachers are delivering hands-on workshops in schools, helping students move from ideas on paper to tangible prototypes.
Not just for STEM teachers
One of the strongest messages from Becky was clear: this isn’t just for STEM departments.
Solve for Tomorrow lends itself perfectly to:
- Design & Technology
- Geography and sustainability
- Computing and digital literacy
- Art, design, and even oracy through pitching and presentation
Cross-curricular projects don’t just widen participation they lead to richer ideas and more inclusive outcomes.
What support do schools actually get?
This is often the make-or-break question for busy teachers.
Schools that take part gain access to:
- A hub of free classroom resources, lesson packs and student workbooks
- CPD webinars and guidance aligned to Gatsby Benchmarks
- Opportunities to be matched with industry mentors from Samsung
- Hands-on workshops for semi-finalist schools, benefiting whole classes
Even schools that don’t progress in the competition can continue using the resources long after the deadline.
The impact so far
Since launching in 2020, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has:
- Engaged hundreds of thousands of young people
- Generated thousands of tech-for-good ideas
- Earned a 95% teacher recommendation rate
Some ideas have gone on to become real products and even recognised startups, powerful proof of what can happen when students are given time, space and support to innovate.
The skills students really need for the future
When asked about future skills, both guests agreed: it’s less about mastering one specific tool, and more about how students think and adapt.
Key skills included:
- Creativity and design thinking
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Collaboration and communication
- Adaptability and resilience
- Understanding emerging technologies like AI – critically and responsibly
As Becky put it, students don’t need to have their whole career mapped out at 16. They need confidence that their skills are transferable, and that they can pivot as the world of work evolves.
Get involved
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is free to enter and open now.
Entries close on 1 February 2026.
Teachers and educators can register and find out more at: https://solvefortomorrowuk.com
If you’re looking for a meaningful, inclusive way to connect curriculum learning to real-world impact, and to show students that tech really is for everyone, this is a fantastic place to start.
Check out the full interview here: https://community.stem.org.uk/browse/scl-od