Page 4 - index

A Network of Sustainable Partnerships

FLATE, the Florida Advanced Technological Educa on Regional Center of Excellence, was established by the Na on-
al Science Founda on (NSF) in 2004 to help develop a skilled and qualified workforce for Florida’s manufacturers.
FLATE builds the pipeline of future workers for Florida’s advanced manufacturing sector using a comprehensive,
three pronged approach: curriculum reform, outreach, and professional development. FLATE’s vision and mission
are grounded in collabora ve partnerships. In 2011, Florida industry expressed the need for partnerships with
schools to develop a pipeline of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)-educated employees, and schools
have expressed a strong desire for this partnership, but both en es have had a slow start forging ahead to make
these partnerships happen.

Industry and educa onal ins tu ons can engage in a variety of partnerships and ac vi es as outlined in this new
guide, produced in partnership with the Manufacturers Associa on of Florida’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing
Excellence (CAME). O en partnerships begin with a single, regular involvement in an outreach ac vity and increase
as interest in that ac vity grows and expands to others. Although partnerships may start with a single person in a
school and a single person in the company, it is impera ve that this expands to involve more stakeholders in each.
In the school, this could be a program director (CTE director and/or principal). At the company, the group might
include human resources, media and outreach/community involvement personnel as well as plant or opera ons
managers, engineers and/or technicians. Strong, las ng partnerships involve rela onships and rela onships involve
people.

FLATE’s goal in this ac vity is to build a network of sustainable partnerships. In this new guide, we share lessons
learned and best prac ces to create successful and sustainable school-industry partnerships. We offer a “laundry
list” of possibili es that schools and industry can mix and match to create strong partnerships that result in “win-
win” scenarios for both. We also offer ps for talking with students about aspects of manufacturing that young
people can relate to and are even passionate about. The partnerships will have many common and fundamental
threads, but they won’t look alike and shouldn’t! Let FLATE help you get started on your partnership adventure to
grow a strong and engaging educa onal pathway for manufacturing careers. Please do not hesitate to send us your
stories; we would love to celebrate and share them.

Finally, providing the correct image of manufacturing is impera ve. Many s ll see the manufacturing industry as
merely assembly lines of workers manually processing widgets all day. Educa ng and informing students (and par-
ents) about the world of modern manufacturing and the opportuni es available in the field is essen al. Too many
young people are disregarding manufacturing as a career, unaware of the career growth and wage poten al. How-
ever, the image will not change unless you, the manufacturers change it. FLATE can help, but your involvement is
vital.

Please contact us if we can answer any questions about this material, or help facilitate a connection or partnership.
In addition, learn more about FLATE and our MSSC aligned ET Degree program at www.fl-ate.org, and see how our
“Made in Florida” outreach campaign can help you make the connection at www.madeinflorida.org.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Barger, Ph. D., P.E., CPT

4