Cognizant Joins ‘Change the Equation’ to Build
President Obama Launches Change the Equation at White House Event
TEANECK, N.J. and Bangalore, India, September 16, 2010—Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH), a leading provider of consulting and technology services, announced today it has joined Change the Equation (CTEq), a CEO-led initiative to cultivate widespread literacy in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). CTEq will not only achieve the President’s Educate to Innovate campaign mission to increase private and philanthropic involvement in STEM education, but also will meet a critical need for a workforce and a citizenry fluent in science and math.
Change the Equation is bringing together top companies like Cognizant across multiple sectors, all of which are dedicated to preparing students for STEM-related careers as an investment in their business, the economy, and our democracy. Through innovative and effective company-led programs, Cognizant and CTEq aim to fill the opportunity gap with capable and enthusiastic STEM-literate young people. It is the first and only STEM education group that brings so many corporate leaders together in collaboration with the White House, State Houses nationwide, and the foundation community.
Corporate Member Cognizant joins founding members from Time Warner Cable, Sally Ride Science, Kodak, Intel and Xerox.
“Investing in and collaborating on STEM education has been a priority for our company,” said Francisco D’Souza, President and CEO of Cognizant. “STEM literacy is a business imperative for the economic well being of the
According to a report by the Center on Education and the Workforce, there will be 8 million jobs available in STEM-related fields by 2018. However, the report also finds that the next generation of employees in
“‘I can’t do math’ has become an iconic excuse in our society,” said Linda Rosen, Chief Executive Officer of CTEq. “Many Americans have expressed it, but I don’t believe it’s an accurate reflection of who we are, or, more importantly, what we can do.”
Rosen continued, “If we don’t encourage our children and students to get excited about math as well as science, technology and engineering, we are denying them the chance to reach their potential, and be prepared for a future filled with opportunity.”
Rosen announced that CTEq will establish a set of criteria that guides the organization and its member companies in defining program success. “It has been said that conscience is a person’s compass,” Rosen said. “CTEq can and will fire the nation’s conscience on STEM education. We will monitor our own progress and the progress of others, identifying what is working and what isn’t. CTEq will apply the lessons we learn so that the nation continues to move towards a future where every American is literate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."
CTEq has an ambitious agenda for its first year, including creating a snapshot of existing STEM investments by its 100 member companies to establish a baseline of STEM programs. In response, Cognizant is extending its
CTEq also will create a self-evaluation mechanism for member companies to measure the effectiveness of their STEM programs. It will also launch an ambitious plan to initiate a core set of very effective programs in 100 new sites across the country to broaden the philanthropic reach of CTEq members and to create a state-by-state scorecard that can assess the condition of STEM education in all 50 states.
CTEq evolved as a result of the first Educate to Innovate Event in November 2009, when President Obama named five leading business and thought leaders (Sally Ride, Craig Barrett, Ursula Burns, Glen Britt, and Antonio Perez) to head an effort to improve American student participation and performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Carnegie Corporation of
CTEq’s goals are to:
1. Improve STEM teaching at all grade levels, with a larger and more racially, ethnically and gender-diverse pool of highly-capable STEM teachers.
2. Deepen student appreciation and excitement for STEM programs and careers to increase enrollment and success, especially among females and students of color.
3. Achieve a sustained commitment to the STEM movement from business leaders, government officials, STEM teachers and other stakeholders through communication, collaboration and data-based decision making.
About Change the Equation
Change the Equation (CTEq) is a non-profit organization whose 100 member companies from across industry sectors are dedicated to promoting innovation and investment in STEM teaching and learning. CTEq aims to give STEM education a central place in the national lexicon of excellence and achievement, establishing a national movement to support, promote and implement excellent STEM education for every child.
About Cognizant
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