MIT Emerging Talent (formerly MIT ReACT)

Last month, we were delighted to take part in the Refugees & Migrants in Our Common Home conference in Rome, a transformative global initiative led by Villanova University and its partners to mobilize academic communities in addressing the critical challenges faced by migrants and refugees. MIT Emerging Talent presented a poster presentation showcasing curriculum design approaches for its certificate program serving displaced learners. Led by Lana Cook , Associate Director of the MIT Systems Awareness Lab , and Negin Ahmadi , program alumna and a refugee from Afghanistan now pursuing her higher education and professional career in Italy, the presentation highlighted lessons learned from over eight years of working closely alongside displaced communities around the world. It covered curriculum design and flexible admissions approaches that continuously adapt to local contexts and learners' needs. It also shared key considerations for institutions looking to provide holistic support that addresses both academic and personal challenges while recognizing lived experiences as expertise, not barriers. Swipe to see highlights from the conference ✨ It's encouraging to see the growing interest within higher education to support the educational needs of migrants and refugees. We are grateful to all the visionary institutions and collaborators making coordinated action possible. Yet, there is still much to be done to ensure that inclusion goes beyond access, reaching a level of recognition and long-term opportunity. Together, we can create pathways that transform barriers into opportunities for talented learners worldwide. MIT Open Learning Massachusetts Institute of Technology Admir Masic

Meet Ana Isabel Murillo Murillo, one of our exceptional learners from Colombia! 🌟 With a background in psychology, Ana joined Emerging Talent and gained skills in data science and the confidence to claim her place in tech. She embarked on a unique skill combination that's now driving real impact in the field. Through Emerging Talent's continuous career support and focus on connecting talent to professional opportunities, Ana successfully landed an internship at Quipu, an MIT startup. Quipu is a fintech platform in Colombia that offers digital financing solutions to micro-entrepreneurs and informal business owners, such as migrants, who may not qualify for traditional loans. Hear directly from Juan Cristobal Constain, Co-Founder of Quipu: "Things are going great with Ana, she's very proactive working in our Data & AI team, where she's in charge of building an interactive personality assessment tool for our credit scoring products. She's been working closely with our Data Scientists and Machine Learning Engineers. She's learnt a lot and is always willing to take on new challenges." Thanks to Quipu and all our internship collaborators for their trust in our talent pool! When you hire from our community, you're not only investing in highly skilled and motivated professionals but also contributing to a more inclusive tech ecosystem, creating opportunities for talented individuals who have historically been left behind. Ready to join our internship program and hire MIT-trained talent from around the world? Get in touch! 🚀Email emergingtalent@mit.edu or DM Camila Massa.

We had the honor of being joined by Katayoun Kishi, Head of Data Science at ACLED, for inspiring insights from her extensive experience working at the intersection of data science, international relations, and conflict studies. Katayoun shared her journey from her previous work at Pew Research Center, working on a project tracking and creating an index of religious freedoms around the world, to her current role at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), where she leads the management and publication of conflict- and demonstration-related data and advances conflict forecasting for humanitarian early warning systems worldwide. She also highlighted important considerations ACLED prioritizes regarding the privacy and safety of victims affected by conflicts and political unrest around the world. Learners left the session deeply inspired, as many of them are currently working on capstone projects in data science related to conflict and sensitive contexts. The session reinforced the potential for their work to drive meaningful, real-world impact. Huge thanks to Katayoun for her wisdom and energy!💙

As part of the Emerging Talent Certificate, learners embark on two hands-on Experimental Learning Opportunities (ELOs) to apply what they learned in real-world scenarios. As they dive into their second ELO, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the incredible work they accomplished during their first project, where they applied what they learned in research and data science to tackle complex global challenges.   This week, we’re spotlighting two outstanding group projects:    ☀️ Solar Energy in Conflict Zones  A group of talented learners from Sudan, Palestine, Venezuela, and Russia investigated a critical paradox: Solar energy is among the cheapest power sources globally, yet it costs 57% more in war-torn regions where it’s needed most. They analyzed 25 years of data across 17 countries, revealing that 64% of people without electricity live in conflict zones. They went beyond insights and proposed actionable solutions, including a pilot project for Khartoum, Sudan.   🔗 Read their full story here: https://lnkd.in/dd4KYvAc   🌸 Somalia’s Maternal and Child Mortality "Deqo's Team" is a women-led group that tackled a deeply sensitive issue by analyzing health data to map geographic hotspots where child mortality rates are highest in Somalia. They explored the impact of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on maternal and child health outcomes, uncovering a troubling correlation: FGM is associated with child mortality in 1 in 5 women. They went above and beyond and incorporated creative storytelling, producing a comic book to raise awareness in a region with high illiteracy rates.   🔗 Discover their journey here: https://lnkd.in/dXqsx3dE   We’re incredibly proud of how our learners tackled complex, often uncomfortable issues they understand intimately. They brought rigor, creativity, and deep empathy to their work, setting a high bar for future projects. Many of them are building on this foundation in their ELO2, so we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next! Solar Energy Team Members: Mohamed Altayeb, Mohamed Saeed, Ahd A. Basan, Zeinab Mohmmed, Maria Alejandra Cedeño, Mariia Ermishina, Eman ALfalouji, Anyak Abraham, Mohamed Elnageeb and Muhannad Asaf. Deqo's Team Members: Reem Osama, Ava A., Safia Nouman, Solara Hamza, Rafaa Ali Abdalla, Safaa Osman, Muhammet Ali ISIK, Abdulrahman Ali, Mohamed Makki, Ana Isabel Murillo Murillo, Hector Daniel Colmenares Blanco, Aseel Abutair

Since our founding, Emerging Talent has opened education and employment pathways for over 600 learners from historically underserved communities in computer science and emerging technology. Together we have supported positive change in these communities and beyond. But this mission wouldn't have been possible without the collaboration of our supporters. Today, we're celebrating GMI. The Global Mentorship Initiative empowers our learners through mentorship and job readiness training, including leveraging AI for career development, mastering interview preparation, building connections, and standing out in the workplace. Through its 1:1 Mentorship Program, GMI bridges the gap between graduation and first career steps for young professionals, working toward a more equitable workforce, which has proven to have an incredible impact on our community of learners who come from diverse, often underrepresented backgrounds. We’d like to give a shout-out to some of the amazing GMI team members who have been supporting Emerging Talent cohorts for the past 2 years. Jon Browning , Ravenna Hennane, Chad Fuller, Christine Loredo, Andrea Alemán González. Thank you for investing in human potential and collaborating with us to create opportunities that transcend borders and circumstances. For helping us show our learners that even in the face of challenging times, they can stand tall and continue to thrive! ✨💙

AI is rapidly changing how people learn, work, and the skills needed to thrive in tomorrow's job market. Our learners engaged in a thought-provoking session with David Dixon, PhD, Head of AI Education & Innovation at MIT Horizon , who deep-dived into navigating careers in the age of artificial intelligence. David emphasized that AI is transforming existing jobs more than creating entirely new ones. He highlighted that the future belongs to individuals who can use AI as a teammate and master their field's fundamentals while learning to collaborate effectively with those tools. His message to our learners: Focus on building your "last mile": the uniquely human skills of problem-framing, critical reasoning, judgment, and clear communication. These capabilities, combined with AI fluency, make you indispensable. Perhaps most exciting for our community: AI is making high-quality learning and expertise more accessible than ever before, creating powerful opportunities for motivated, self-directed learners to rapidly gain new skills and tackle challenging problems that once seemed out of reach. A heartfelt thank you to David for equipping our learners and alumni with the knowledge and strategies they need to thrive in an AI-enhanced world where AI amplifies their unique talents and perspectives.✨ MIT Open Learning

One certificate program. A lifelong global community. 🌍💙 The Emerging Talent experience is filled with laughter, in moments tears, and plenty of growth along the way. From workshops and breakout rooms to group projects and discussion panels, every moment contributes to the bonds our learners form together. After our last alumni panel, our wonderful learners 💖 Robel Mengsteab and Samuel Gai took the opportunity to meet in person with their peer and alum Amal Matovu. They had an inspiring conversation about career and educational paths, as well as insights on making the most out of their ambitions in the field of data science, which they are deeply passionate about. Robel reflects, "I'm feeling incredibly motivated and proud to be part of the Emerging Talent community. Couldn't have asked for a better networking experience!" There’s nothing that makes us prouder than our vibrant and supportive community that continues to grow across borders, backgrounds, and experiences. 💫

On the soothing rhythms of calm music, our learners came together for a special mindfulness session focused on managing stress in work and life, in commemoration of #WorldMentalHealthDay.    After a season of intensive learning and impactful group projects, it was a moment to slow down, pause, and reconnect with themselves. The session explored shifting the narrative around stress from something to fear to a force that can be understood and harnessed for growth. Learners discovered how small, mindful steps and acts of kindness can lead to finding balance and lasting inner peace.   Closing with a guided meditation, learners left feeling energized, at ease, and equipped with clarity to move forward.   A heartfelt thank you to Jana Osta for her nurturing energy and grounding presence, and to Camila Massa for her facilitation. 💙

Yesterday’s alumni panel on Translating Skills into New Directions showcased the incredible journeys of our alumni Negin Ahmadi, Mona T. Saeed, and Justin Paluku M. Their stories of growth and community left attendees motivated and reminded us of the transformative power of perseverance. Negin was just one semester away from completing her computer science degree in Afghanistan when the Taliban’s return to power disrupted her academic dreams simply for being a girl. Forced to relocate to Italy, she pivoted to a new field, economics and business, while navigating life as a refugee. Juggling work, studies, and the ET program, she felt overwhelmed. One day, she drafted an email to drop out, but before she could send it, a teammate noticed her struggle and reached out with simple yet powerful words: "You can do it, let’s go together." With determination, Negin completed the Emerging Talent program and worked on a project analyzing migration patterns in conflict zones. Today, she’s excelling in her Master’s in Financial Risk and Data Analytics at Sapienza University in Rome. Mona was in her final year of electrical engineering in Sudan, working on her startup, when war broke out. Displaced in Egypt with no word from her university, she felt her future slipping away. She sought structure and connection and found both in the program. She reflected, "I wanted something more structured that would allow me to work with other people and apply what I learned in real-world projects." She continues, capturing the connections she experienced: "At first glance, you’d think we come from very different backgrounds, but along the way, you discover you share so much more than you think." With the program’s support and her extensive experience, Mona secured a full scholarship at Duke University, where she is currently studying a Master’s in Data Science. She is also working as a research assistant in the Energy Data Analytics Lab at Duke, and contributing as a capstone researcher for Citizens Bank. Justin, a refugee from the DRC living in Uganda, started as a volunteer teaching basic computer skills to fellow refugees. When he joined the program, he gained access to a chain of transformative opportunities, including the MIT Innovation Leadership Bootcamp and an internship at Kiryandongo refugee camp. Justin reflected on his journey: "All of this, the innovation leadership program, computer science program, and internship…they were building me, helping me become a person who could fly by himself. And from there, I started thinking about how I could create my own initiative." Today, he built a platform for collective empowerment, co-founding Up With Africa - UWA, an NGO empowering refugees through tech education, entrepreneurship, and stress management through sports. We couldn’t be prouder of our stunning alumni. Their journeys exemplify the spirit of our community: resilient, innovative, and committed to giving back. We can’t wait to see what they do next!✨💙

Every day, we see the incredible resilience of our learners. Individuals who pursue their education and dreams amidst the challenges of global uncertainty. Their determination inspires us deeply. 💌 As we observe #WorldMentalHealthDay, we pause to recognize the weight that global instability places on their wellbeing and share some gentle reminders for moments when things feel heavy. This year's theme, "Access to Services: Mental Health in Catastrophes and Emergencies," set by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), reminds us that global catastrophes not only disrupt education for vulnerable communities but also cause profound psychological distress and emotional instability. At MIT Emerging Talent, we believe in supporting our learners holistically. Throughout our year-long program, we constantly encourage learners to build connections with peers and mentors, and benefit from mindfulness sessions and personal agency workshops. These spaces help our learners reflect about the tools needed to navigate challenging circumstances while pursuing their educational and professional goals.