Education Needs Industry Support Now More Than Ever

As schools tighten their wallets and industries face an urgent demand for skilled workers, a powerful movement is taking place. Businesses are stepping into the classroom to support student education, shaping what and how they learn.

The workforce evolves. Yet, many classrooms still rely on outdated tools and methods, leaving students underprepared for real-world careers. For technical roles and industries that rely on design, engineering, and manufacturing talent, this disconnect can be detrimental.

A shortage in the classroom

Manufacturers and engineering firms aren’t just predicting a skills shortage. They’re living it. This is creating a growing demand for job-ready graduates with hands-on experience. According to the 2025 Jobs Report from the World Economic Forum, 39% of all employees will need reskilling by 2030. Modern technologies, like AI and 3D printing, are becoming part of the value chain.

At the same time, schools are being asked to do more with less—less funding, less resources, and less access to the very tools used in the workforce. Teachers juggle competing priorities, from personalized learning and equity to delivering career-readiness in ill-prepared environments.

Students are growing up surrounded by tech. But when it comes to learning technical skills, like CAD, robotics, 3D printing, or AI, their exposure often comes too late. This lack of preparation not only impacts the students, it impacts the economy.

This is where businesses and educators can work together more meaningfully to give students an opportunity to develop the skills and gain the experience needed for their careers. This relationship is mutually beneficial:

• Students get hands-on experience with the tools and workflows used in real jobs.
• Teachers receive curriculum-aligned resources, upskilling opportunities, and support that reduces the strain of lesson planning.
• Industry gets a talent pipeline better prepared for tomorrow's careers.

A modern toolkit for a modern education

Bringing resources into schools isn’t just about hardware; it’s about building the right ecosystem around it. From curriculum and training to software support and funding pathways, educators need a full framework to teach these technologies with confidence and success.

For nearly 15 years, MakerBot has worked closely with educators, across different grade levels and disciplines, to develop a comprehensive ecosystem to bring 3D printing into the classroom. By making 3D printing accessible, we are helping shape how students learn, not just what they learn. Students begin to think like engineers, designers, and problem-solvers, and they’re building confidence and creativity and critical thinking skills.

Whether they’re prototyping solutions to everyday challenges or exploring the basics of design thinking, they begin to see themselves as problem-solvers and creators. These early experiences lay the foundation for future learning in STEM and help students connect classroom concepts to the world around them.

From our experience, supporting educators is essential.

That’s why we built the MakerBot education ecosystem—not just as a hardware solution, but as a full educational support platform. It includes standards-aligned curriculum, ready-to-use lesson plans, and teacher and student certifications. We’ve also integrated an AI-powered platform that helps teachers personalize content and discover funding sources, helping them remove the biggest barriers to adoption.