With technology advancing rapidly, the disparities putting people at risk of exclusion from the digital economy and other opportunities have become more obvious. Many people — frequently youths, people from underserved communities and women — experience barriers to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education, good jobs, informed civic engagement, health care and more. That’s one of the reasons Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) takes its obligation to advance STEM education through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs so seriously.

TCS has a unique lens on CSR: The company’s purpose and formal structure are designed for giving back to the communities in which it operates. In fact, 66% of the equity share capital of TCS’ parent company, Tata Sons, is held by philanthropic trusts which support societal outcomes in education, health, livelihood generation, and art and culture. The work includes providing K-12 STEM education for largely underrepresented communities in computer-science related fields.

“Technology can be a key driver of social change, and we want to uplift and empower individuals, and whole communities, to ensure the changes are positive,” said Lina Klebanov, head of corporate social responsibility, North America, at TCS. “We focus collectively on education, skilling, employment, and entrepreneurship to give people the digital skills they need for long-term benefit. Our unique model begins with accessing the human, intellectual, and tech capital so readily available to us, and using it to the benefit of our communities.”

TCS and NASCIO Give Back

That’s why TCS is sponsoring the Give Back program for the National Association of State Chief Information Officers’ (NASCIO) Annual Conference. In operation for more than a decade, the Give Back program selects a nonprofit that focuses on STEM education training within the community where NASCIO hosts the conference. In 2024, that nonprofit will be Operation Spark, a New Orleans-based software training center facilitating upward mobility through software skills training and job placement. NASCIO’s corporate sponsors — including TCS — will provide $30,000, and NASCIO itself will match up to $5,000 of attendee donations.

“The generosity of Give Back sponsors and donors is overwhelming. Thanks to them, we’re able to give our partners a big gift in support of their amazing work,” Emily Lane, NASCIO director of experience and engagement, said. “I’m excited for the day when a program graduate attends a NASCIO conference as a state government or corporate employee.”

Klebanov said NASCIO’s Give Back program is well-aligned with TCS’ values, making the partnership a good fit for TCS’ support. TCS recognizes and appreciates that individuals who care about their communities and want to serve them make up the company’s customers in the public sector, especially in state and local public services.

TCS CSR programs

One of TCS’ flagship education programs, Go Innovate Together (goIT), was created 15 years ago by a group of TCS employees in Cincinnati who recognized that there was a lack of interested and appropriately skilled candidates for the many available positions in their local office. So, they embarked on a mission to demystify computer science and help get young people from underrepresented groups excited about careers in tech.

It began with a small summer camp experience that introduced middle school students to computer science concepts through LEGO EV3 robots, and has since evolved into a global innovation and career-readiness initiative that focuses on exploring various technology pathways, providing teacher/facilitator training and inviting students to participate in project-based challenges that foster critical thinking skills —and which are tied to the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Klebanov said goIT has reached 64,000 North American students since its inception, and 94% of participants — 46% of whom are girls — express interest in STEM careers as a result of their experience with program.

TCS’ other flagship education program is Ignite My Future. Since its start in 2017, it has reached 1.8 million students in North America, with programming that includes mentorship components for educators and hands-on opportunities. It is a computational thinking program for teachers, students, and families which introduces higher order problem solving skills and infuses them into core subjects like language arts, math, science, and history.

“It’s important to note that people, not technology, guide us towards the future of work,” Klebanov said. “And with rapid advancements in the AI and GenAI space, our programs focus on core concepts like computational and design thinking to advance digital fluency and make sure today’s students have the skills they need to succeed in careers that are changing every single day — and which may not even exist yet.”

TCS utilizes its Digital Empowers social impact thought leadership program to advance this work from a different angle. The program focuses on convening some of the brightest minds and boldest companies for the purpose of advancing digital inclusion and opportunity across North America.

“Our approach to giving back is a multi-pronged, comprehensive one centered on advancing equity and well-being,” Klebanov said.

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