Fostering excellence and diversity in STEM

As the pre-college outreach and public engagement unit in The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) Program introduces talented and diverse pre-college students to active college students, and together they explore engineering and the sciences through hands-on, minds-on activities. WYSE strives to overcome opportunity gaps by providing students from underrepresented populations with opportunities to experience success and to be able to see themselves as future engineers, programmers, mathematicians, and scientists. Through collaborations with departments across campus, with corporations and foundations, and with in- and out-of-school learning partners across the state,  WYSE offers multiple out-of-school learning opportunities for K-12 students in Illinois, the nation, and the world. 

2022 Summer Camps Group Photo

Summer Programs

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Grainger College of Engineering offers a variety of summer enrichment programs for pre-college youth from near and far. Get a taste of college life while exploring various engineering fields and researching side-by-side with Illinois faculty and students.

K-2 students and teacher working on solar house activity during an IMAGINE STEM Saturday workshop in Spring 2024.

Year-Round Programs

Through collaborations with departments across campus, with corporations and foundations, and with in- and out-of-school learning partners across the state, WYSE offers multiple year-round STEM learning opportunities for pre-college students, families, and educators. 

Physics Float Your Boat Activity Graphic with cartoon depiction of a bunch of Abe Lincolns grouped together in a wooden boat floating on water

Partnerships & Resources

 WYSE partners and collaborates with a variety of community organizations, schools, Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), and University of Illinois Faculty & Researchers to develop, implement, evaluate, and reach a diverse group of K-12 students.  Many of these collaborations result in the production of STEM resources and activities for educators and pre-college students.