Developing a Technical Work Force

SENEDIA Teams with NUWC to Look at Ways to Develop a Technical Work Force.

There is a critical deficiency in the number of people who pursue technical careers in the United States. As many people have realized this problem, there are many initiatives that have started in an attempt to solve the problem. They range from programs to introduce science, technology engineering and math (STEM) as a career at the grade school level, high school education programs all the way to post baccalaureate programs that help new professionals become fully productive when they enter the workforce. These many initiatives at the private company, educational institution and the State and Federal Government levels have been largely working independently with some loose coordination.

SENEDIA has teamed with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center to form an educational subcommittee to evaluate how to facilitate these independent efforts, and find out what the Government and private companies are doing to develop their internal work forces. It aims to provide employers with information on the programs available, while attempting to better coordinate the effective management and delivery of educational value to its member organizations.

The project goals will center around (1) Determining the mutual needs of our industries and our communities, (2) identifying existing initiatives and programs, and getting a handle on which organizations are currently working the STEM areas, (3) letting people know the ongoing initiatives and opportunities available, (4) collaborating to create synergy that enables organizations to learn from other successful programs, and (5) forming an overall strategy to get the most out of these programs and increase the level of STEM enthusiasm with an overarching goal to increase the number of students pursuing STEM paths in high school, and produce more Engineers and Scientists graduating from colleges that become productive members of the National security support work force.

For a related story, see how SENEDIA helped Rogers High School in Newport with Senior Project Judges.

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