Roberto Rocca Scholarships Celebrate 50 Years of Empowering Students and Transforming Lives Worldwide
Tenaris is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Roberto Rocca Scholarships in 2026, marking five decades of supporting educational achievement, expanding opportunities, and helping young people pursue their academic ambitions. Established in 1976, the program has awarded more than 45,000 scholarships across 23 countries, providing support to high school and university students who demonstrate strong academic performance and dedication to their studies.
The scholarship initiative is operated by Tenaris and its sister companies within the Techint Group. It focuses on helping students from communities where these companies operate continue their education and develop the knowledge and skills needed to build successful futures.
Over the past five decades, the program has become an important part of the group’s commitment to education, social mobility, and community development. Its 50th anniversary highlights the lasting impact of investing in young people and creating opportunities for students who might otherwise face financial or socioeconomic barriers to continuing their studies.
Five Decades of Supporting Educational Achievement
The Roberto Rocca Scholarships were created to recognize academic merit and encourage students to continue their educational journeys. The program supports high school and university students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and a strong commitment to learning.
Beyond recognizing achievement, the initiative seeks to improve access to education by considering students’ socioeconomic circumstances during the selection process. This approach is intended to promote equal opportunities and help talented young people overcome obstacles that could prevent them from pursuing further education.
Since its establishment, the program has expanded internationally, reaching communities across 23 countries. The more than 45,000 scholarships awarded demonstrate the scale of its commitment to supporting students and strengthening access to education.
The program’s 50-year milestone also reflects the broader belief that education can create lasting benefits for individuals, families, and communities. By supporting students throughout important stages of their academic development, the initiative aims to help prepare future professionals, engineers, technicians, and community leaders.
For Tenaris, the anniversary is an opportunity to recognize the students who have benefited from the scholarships and reaffirm the importance of education as a foundation for long-term social and economic progress.
Roberto Rocca Education Programs Cover the Full School Journey
The scholarship initiative is one of four programs within the broader Roberto Rocca Education Programs. Together, these initiatives are designed to support learning from elementary school through university and strengthen educational opportunities in communities where Techint Group companies operate.
Tenaris, Ternium, Techint Engineering & Construction, and Tecpetrol design, operate, and fund the programs as part of their shared commitment to educational development.
The four programs address different stages of learning and provide complementary forms of support.
Roberto Rocca Technical Schools
Roberto Rocca Technical Schools provide technical secondary education through project-based learning, modern laboratories, and practical educational experiences. The approach is intended to connect classroom learning with real-world applications and help students develop technical knowledge alongside problem-solving skills.
The first Roberto Rocca Technical School opened in Campana, Argentina, in 2013. The initiative reflects the group’s interest in strengthening technical education and preparing students for future academic and professional opportunities.
By combining theoretical instruction with practical learning, the schools aim to help students develop the capabilities needed to pursue further studies or enter technical career paths.
Roberto Rocca Technical Gene
The Roberto Rocca Technical Gene program supports technical schools by providing equipment, training for students and teachers, and internship opportunities.
Access to suitable equipment and practical training can help educational institutions improve the quality of technical instruction. Teacher development is also an important component, enabling educators to strengthen their teaching methods and deliver learning experiences that respond to evolving industry requirements.
Internships provide another opportunity for students to connect education with workplace experience. Through these activities, the program seeks to strengthen links between schools and the professional environments in which students may eventually work.
Roberto Rocca After School
The Roberto Rocca After School program focuses on children between the ages of 6 and 15. It develops science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills alongside social-emotional capabilities.
The program recognizes that children’s development extends beyond traditional classroom instruction. Activities that encourage curiosity, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving can help young learners build confidence and develop skills that support their continued education.
By introducing STEM concepts at an early age, the initiative also seeks to encourage interest in science and technology and create a stronger foundation for future learning.
Roberto Rocca Scholarships
The Roberto Rocca Scholarships support high school and university students who demonstrate academic merit and commitment to their studies.
Selection combines academic performance with a socioeconomic evaluation, helping the program recognize talented students while considering the financial and social circumstances that may influence their ability to continue studying.
This approach reflects the initiative’s dual objectives of rewarding achievement and promoting social mobility. By helping students continue their education, the program seeks to expand access to opportunities and encourage the development of future generations of skilled professionals.
Roberto Rocca’s Vision and the Program’s Origins
The scholarship program began in Argentina in 1976, when Roberto Rocca, one of the founders of the Techint Group, established the initiative around his belief that education was a fundamental driver of individual development and social progress.
Rocca viewed education as more than a means of acquiring knowledge. He believed it could create opportunities, improve people’s circumstances, strengthen communities, and support broader social advancement.
His philosophy continues to influence the Techint Group’s educational initiatives today. In 2022, the scholarship program was renamed the Roberto Rocca Scholarships to honor his legacy and recognize his contribution to the group’s educational mission.
Paolo Rocca, Chairman of Tenaris and President of the Techint Group, highlighted the importance of these principles during a scholarship award ceremony in Campana, Argentina.
He explained that his father believed education was fundamental to personal development, social mobility, and the creation of opportunities. Paolo Rocca also emphasized that these beliefs had been passed on throughout the Techint Group and had become part of its core values.
He further stressed that education should not be regarded solely as a privilege, describing studying as a right, a duty, and an extraordinary opportunity. According to his remarks, communities grow when their members continuously develop their knowledge and capabilities.
These principles remain central to the scholarship program’s mission as it enters its sixth decade.
Education as a Core Element of Tenaris’ Community Strategy
Education is a central component of Tenaris’ community relations strategy. The company reported that 84% of its community relations investment in 2025 went toward education programs, demonstrating the importance it places on learning and skills development.
This investment reflects the company’s approach to supporting the communities where it operates. Educational opportunities can help individuals develop professional capabilities, improve their long-term prospects, and contribute to local economic development.
The Roberto Rocca Education Programs address these objectives through several complementary approaches, including technical secondary education, teacher training, internships, after-school learning, and scholarships.
Together, these initiatives aim to create opportunities at different stages of a student’s development. Early exposure to STEM subjects can encourage curiosity, technical schools can build practical capabilities, and scholarships can help academically strong students continue to higher levels of education.
The combination of these programs also reflects an understanding that educational progress requires more than a single intervention. Students benefit from access to learning resources, qualified educators, practical experiences, and financial support when needed.
Looking Ahead: Continuing a Legacy of Opportunity
As the Roberto Rocca Scholarships mark their 50th anniversary in 2026, the program’s history demonstrates the role that sustained educational investment can play in supporting individuals and communities.
With more than 45,000 scholarships awarded across 23 countries, the initiative has established a broad international presence. Its continued operation through Tenaris and other Techint Group companies reinforces the group’s commitment to educational access and the development of future talent.
The anniversary also provides an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of ensuring that students have the resources and support needed to pursue their academic goals. By combining recognition of academic achievement with consideration of socioeconomic circumstances, the program seeks to help talented young people overcome barriers and access further opportunities.
Through the wider Roberto Rocca Education Programs, the group continues to support learning across multiple stages, from elementary-level STEM development to technical education and university studies.
