My association, through its associated and strategically-aligned, tax-exempt charitable foundation, is addressing our industry's challenge on two fronts -- only one of which I think I will have time to talk about at the conference. That front has us partnering with 2-year technical colleges to create and support degree and certificate programs that teach the competencies our industry has already identified as representing the workforce skills they seek and have trouble finding.
But it's not just the technical colleges that get our attention. In order to make sure there are enough students in the programs that they offer, we also have to work with high schools and even middle schools in the same communities to make sure there is a "pipeline" of students interested in pursuing this line of education and getting jobs in this industry.
We actually use the word "pathway" when talking about these programs. We seek to create a pathway into our industry. We are building a series of programs that first introduce our industry's technology (i.e., fluid power) in middle schools, then provide fluid power educational experiences in high schools, then fluid power degrees and certificates in tech schools, and finally connections to jobs in the fluid power industry.
To help keep all these programs connected -- especially in the minds of the companies that support and want to engage with them -- we have recently organized them under a single brand, something we're calling the Fast Track to Fluid Power. “Fast Track,” we tell potential supporters and participants, is a workforce development pathway that connects local technical colleges with industry partners and high school teachers. The network creates awareness and interest in fluid power and leads students along a path that leads to careers in our industry.
There are four connected program pieces in this pathway:
1. The Fluid Power Action Challenge engages thousands of middle school students in learning about and having fun with fluid power. It raises awareness among students, educators, and parents. Industry partners serve as coaches and judges.
2. Fast Track High Schools are each equipped with fluid power lab equipment and curriculum. They teach real-world fluid power and generate interest in fluid power careers. Industry partners visit the schools frequently and provide mentorship and career encouragement.
3. Fluid Power Scholarships are offered to graduating high school students in order to pursue fluid power degrees or certificates at designated technical colleges. Industry partners serve on the scholarship review committee that makes funding decisions.
4. Fast Track Technical Colleges are schools with a 2-year degree program validated to teach core fluid power competencies. Industry partners provide on-going curriculum guidance and student internship opportunities.
Notice how we have defined a role for industry partners in each one of these connected programs. This, we have discovered, is absolutely essential to their success. The association can do a lot to provide support to the schools and to resource the programs, but only the companies in the industry itself can connect with the students and bring them into the positions that they are trying to fill. Their participation is a make-or-break proposition for our entire strategy.
These are some of the details and observations that I hope to share at the upcoming conference.
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This post first appeared on Eric Lanke's blog, an association executive and author. You can follow him on Twitter @ericlanke or contact him at eric.lanke@gmail.com.
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https://www.amc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/787146/accessories-flight-keeps-mcchords-c-17s-airborne/
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