How Magna and University Talent Are Shaping the Future of Automotive Innovation
At Magna International, shaping the future of the automotive industry starts with empowering the next generation of tech innovators.
To do that, Magna offers summer internships and co-op programs for university students while actively partnering with universities to sponsor projects and research initiatives. Magna also ensures that their newer talent has ample opportunities to build out their skill sets.
Leaders from across Magna play a key role in driving these opportunities. This includes Machine Learning and AI Engineer Rajeev Verma, who is involved in the company’s university partnership initiatives.
According to Verma, the company’s efforts to build the next generation of tech talent goes hand in hand with its commitment to innovation and long-term growth, creating a space in which impact is mutual.
“We view it as a dynamic ecosystem that benefits both emerging professionals and our company, creating a direct pipeline from academia to the forefront of automotive technology,” he said.
About Magna International
Magna is one of the world’s largest automotive suppliers and a trusted partner to automakers across North America, Europe, and China. With teams and operations in 28 countries, we bring the scale, experience, and reliability needed to help shape what’s next in mobility. For nearly seven decades, we’ve combined hands-on manufacturing expertise with innovative vehicle systems to deliver performance, safety, and quality.
At Magna, your career can move and evolve just as fast as the industry. Whether you’re leveling up your skills or trying something new, this is a place where ideas are welcomed, curiosity is encouraged, and you can make a real impact.
How Magna’s Internships and University Partnerships Support the Next Generation of Tech Talent
Magna’s university-focused initiatives are grounded in three focus areas: experiential learning, academic collaboration and internal growth.
The company’s summer internship and co-op programs are designed to immerse students in Magna’s day-to-day operations, offering them a solid introduction to the automotive industry.
“This isn’t about theory; it’s about giving them hands-on experience and allowing them to contribute to real-world projects that are shaping the future of automotive technology,” Verma said.
Magna sponsors senior capstone projects and Ph.D. research, which enables the team to work with students and faculty on some of the industry’s most complex challenges.
Research and Development Director Jim Quesenberry said these collaborations help Magna identify high-potential candidates.
“By combining research objectives with the talent attraction strategy, we increase our scope of partners and tightly couple the future technology with future workforce development,” he said.
Quesenberry is involved in the entire lifecycle of the student and university partnerships programs, providing input regarding each planning cycle to decide which universities will become partners and which student-focused programs are mutually beneficial. He also directly engages with students and key stakeholders from Magna, using the lessons he’s learned throughout the process to inform the next planning cycle.
Verma considers his involvement with Magna’s university partnership initiatives to be “multifaceted,” spanning formal teaching, direct mentorship and deep academic collaboration. Through a partnership with the University of Toronto, for example, he teaches two courses focused on applying AI in manufacturing, a growth opportunity for him and his students.
“The process of refreshing the curriculum each year is a fantastic growth opportunity,” Verma said. “It forces me to stay current and ensures that what we’re teaching is relevant to the real-world challenges we face today.”
He also actively mentors students on various projects, including internships, master’s thesis projects and senior capstone projects, and is currently advising two Ph.D. students at the University of Windsor, guiding their research on topics related to vision inspection for electric vehicle manufacturing.
“This constant engagement has fundamentally shaped my experience at Magna,” Verma said. “It’s a symbiotic relationship: I get to share my practical industry experience with the next generation, but I learn just as much in return. The students bring incredible energy and are often working with the very latest solutions and technologies coming out of academia.”
How Magna Measures the Impact of Its University Programs
“Our method for evaluating and adapting these programs is inherently practical and continuous,” Verma said. “The success stories themselves are our primary evaluation tool.”
- From Internship to Production: Magna has had interns develop novel solutions and tools that were so effective and well-executed that they have been implemented directly into production environments. This is a clear testament to the real-world value these students bring from day one.
- Targeted Master’s Research: Magna’s master’s thesis sponsorships are particularly impactful because they are often undertaken by current Magna employees. They focus their academic research on specific, high-priority challenges they are facing in their roles. This creates a powerful synergy, immediately translating cutting-edge academic work into practical, internal solutions.
- Ph.D.-Driven Innovation: On a personal level, Verma has directly applied many new technologies and advanced techniques being explored by Magna’s Ph.D. students to solve complex problems. Their deep research provides Magna with novel approaches that can be integrated into research and development processes.
How Investing in Emerging Tech Talent Shapes Magna’s Culture of Innovation
Magna’s investment in university partnerships hasn’t just benefited aspiring technologists; it’s created a culture of continuous learning that all employees benefit from.
“The constant influx of student talent brings fresh perspectives that challenge our teams, creating a dynamic environment of mentorship where everyone is both a teacher and a student,” Verma said.
Quesenberry said the company’s emerging talent initiatives reinforce the company’s core value of “Never Settle.”
“By listening to the next generation of talent at universities, we stay humble and keep a growth mindset that unlocks innovation that can come from anywhere,” Quesenberry said.
“By listening to the next generation of talent at universities, we stay humble and keep a growth mindset that unlocks innovation that can come from anywhere.”
Being a part of Magna’s university programs has been transformative for Verna, too.
“The innovative ideas and novel approaches the students bring to the table are not just theoretical; they often have a direct, positive impact on my everyday work, helping me solve problems more effectively,” he said. “It’s a powerful cycle of teaching, learning and innovation.”
Magna’s university partnerships have become a cornerstone of the company’s approach to innovation, unlocking new possibilities for Magna — and the future of automotive technology.
“It acts as a vital bridge to cutting-edge academic research, allowing us to explore and test emerging technologies through focused student projects,” Verma said. “This accelerates our R&D cycle and makes our innovation more open and collaborative, ensuring we are not just reacting to the future of mobility but are actively co-creating it with the next generation of innovators.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What opportunities does Magna offer for early-career technologists?
Magna provides summer internships, co-op programs, senior capstone sponsorships and Ph.D. research collaborations that give students hands-on experience solving real-world automotive technology challenges.
How does Magna support employee learning and skill growth?
Magna fosters a culture of continuous learning by encouraging mentorship, academic collaboration and opportunities for employees to pursue master’s and Ph.D.-level research tied directly to their work.
How do interns and students make an impact at Magna?
Interns have developed tools and solutions strong enough to be implemented directly into production environments, demonstrating the real-world value of student contributions from day one.
What kinds of roles or fields does Magna collaborate on with universities?
University partnerships span areas such as AI in manufacturing, vision inspection for electric vehicles, and other high-priority technical challenges, with leaders teaching courses, mentoring research and co-developing industry solutions.
What makes Magna’s culture appealing to jobseekers?
Magna’s culture emphasizes curiosity, mentorship and a “Never Settle” mindset, with diverse perspectives from students and emerging technologists driving continuous innovation across the organization.
