The Annual Community Relations Annual Report of the Techint Group shows how much the educational programs have grown in strength and scope, reaching over 55,500 students and teachers from 19 countries.

The Techint Group has upheld a firm commitment for the last over seven decades to fostering the growth and sustainable, inclusive development of its neighboring communities, leveraging education as the main driver for driving individual and social progress.

Some of the latest developments showcased this year were: the certification of the Roberto Rocca Technical Schools as technical training centers; a 20% increase in the number of scholarships granted; the extension of the Roberto Rocca After School program to secondary schools in Pesquería, Mexico; and the resumption of professional internships at our industrial plants as part of our Roberto Rocca Technical Gene program.

In his introduction to the Report, Paolo Rocca highlights that: “I am convinced that education is the principal engine driving transformation in society and a vital element for progress and social mobility.” He adds that, "Supporting merit and talent allows us to help promote equal opportunities with a view to achieving long-term, sustainable development." 

In 2022, to reaffirm the Group’s commitment to education, June 10 was named "Roberto Rocca Education Day", commemorating the centenary of the birth of man who nurtured this vision, and whose great legacy is as valid today as when he founded the Techint Group.

This occasion was additionally marked by the Group’s decision to ratify and consolidate its community commitment by bringing all its educational programs together under a single brand, the name of Roberto Rocca, in recognition of his legacy and values.

“This initiative creates a single identity for all our educational programs, enriching synergy and fostering the exchange of learning among the communities where we are present,” says Erika Bienek, Director of Community Relations for the Techint Group. 

The Roberto Rocca Technical Schools (ETRRs), the Roberto Rocca Technical Gene program, the Roberto Rocca After School program, and the Roberto Rocca Scholarships, are now grouped together under a single umbrella of guiding principles and synergies, united by the conviction that education is a vital factor driving people’s development, by creating opportunities and encouraging growth.

As part of its mission to offer quality educational opportunities, in 2022 the Roberto Rocca Educational Campus made educational content available free of charge online, providing support to develop and train the members of the communities neighboring the operations of the Techint Group companies. The www.robertorocca.org website was launched at the same time, to share the organization's global education project and disseminate educational articles and good practices.

New spaces for education, innovation, development, culture and art

The ETRRs have established strategic partnerships with German automation and training companies, such as FESTO and Siemens, and both establishments have qualified as technical training centers. These partnerships open the door for public and private technical schools in both regions to access the ETRR facilities in order to train local youth, and enhance their employment prospects.

As part of the Group’s work toward achieving this commitment, earlier this year, Ternium Brazil announced the construction of a Roberto Rocca Technical School in Santa Cruz, just west of Rio de Janeiro. The school will offer 576 places for students to learn about Mechatronics and Electromechanics, and the first cohort is expected to start in 2025.

In 2022, the Roberto Rocca Technical Gene program provided technical knowledge and tools to 10,919 students, and 385 young people in their last year at technical high school had the opportunity to carry out internships at our industrial plants, acquiring practical experience in a real-life work environment.

Last year, Roberto Rocca After School program reached 1,789 students at primary school level, while the first edition of the program was launched for secondary schools in Pesquería, Mexico, involving students from six local community schools.

As regards the Roberto Rocca Scholarships, there was a 20% increase in the number of scholarships awarded compared with the previous year. A total of 3,658 students received scholarships in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Indonesia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Romania, the United States and Uruguay.

Regarding the programs and activities in support of Art and Culture, Fundación PROA in Argentina presented a series of superlative exhibitions in 2022, attracting over 100,000 visitors during the year. At the same time, 2,200 people took part in online and in-person seminars, courses and classes offered by PROA.

As for the Fondazione Dalmine, work began to restore the historic building in Dalmine housing the foundation, an ambitious remodeling task envisaging over 4,000 m² of new and airy spaces for educational and cultural activities.

Additionally, 18 Film Festivals were organized, bringing together 13,419 spectators in six countries, screening a broad range of films to suit all tastes.

Click here to read the 2022 Community Relations Annual Report of the Techint Group.