OREANDA-NEWS. General Motors is joining the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford University, its latest effort to mine the best and brightest ideas and recruit top students studying toward careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Mary Barra, GM senior vice president of Global Product Development, confirmed the membership Friday following a visit to the Stanford School of Engineering, where she spoke to faculty, students and researchers.

“Joining the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford is a natural fit for GM,” Barra said. “In order to create the world’s best vehicles, we make every effort to remain on the cutting edge of automotive development. Our membership in CARS will allow us both to expand and share our knowledge with students, faculty and industry partners as we work together to move the industry forward.”

The Center for Automotive Research at Stanford is a community of faculty and students from a range of disciplines aimed at discovering, building, and deploying critical ideas and innovations for the next generation of cars and drivers. Unique in its infrastructure, CARS provides shared resources for research, teaching, student project teams and new educational initiatives across many research centers, including the law and business schools.

“GM is dedicated to helping develop the next generation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics professionals and advancing the industry,” Barra said. “The Center for Automotive Research at Stanford offers us not only the chance to contribute to the education of future leaders, but also cultivate new and creative vehicle technology solutions.”

This membership fortifies GM’s long-standing relationship with Stanford. Barra is one of many GM leaders to have earned a degree from Stanford, which is one of GM’s key engineering and business recruitment institutions.

GM and the GM Foundation are committed to improving education in America, ensuring the next generation of professionals has the skills and education necessary to compete globally. GM supports multiple industry partnership outreaches and established the Buick Achiever’s Scholarship in 2011, which has already provided USD 12 million to college-bound students studying in science, technology, engineering and math-related fields.