The Workforce Consortium is an active member of the planning committee that is currently developing a National Science Foundation funded Tech Valley ATE Center for Semiconductor and Nanotechnology Workforce Development within our region. The mission of the center is to bring together business, educators, and government in a collaborative effort to build a highly-skilled technical workforce to meet the employment demands of these rapidly growing industries in our region. The grant application is due October 2009. If accepted Hudson Valley based – RCSNE center will bring monetary resources as well as an extensive educational resources from the other 36 nationwide network of centers that address the workforce needs of a full range of technology sectors; advanced manufacturing, agricultural and environmental, biotechnology, chemical & process technologies, engineering technologies, micro & nanotechnology, learning and evaluation.

This unique program is changing the way the high tech industry including the semiconductor industry and clean tech tackles the challenges of preparing middle and high school students for tomorrow’s workforce. The program gives classroom teachers and guidance counselors the unique opportunity to have a hands-on learning experience about microelectronics and the emerging alternative energy industries. It also provides practical applications of math, science and technology for classroom instruction and curriculum development. Volunteer industry professionals teach the sessions. The Workforce Consortium introduced the industry specific program to the region, helped orchestrate and deliver an industry driven educational program in July 2008; SEMI High Tech U – Teachers Edition that exposed over 65 educators from 20 regional school districts to the world of work within the high tech semiconductor and alternative energy industries. The Workforce Consortium is looking to continue the momentum for teachers and add a student program for the summer of 2009.

The Greater Capital Region Career Pathways Consortium (GCDCPC) is a regional partnership formed to develop and implement a highly effective model for career preparation that provides seamless pathways between secondary and post-secondary education leading to students’ employment in high skill, high wage, high demand and/or emerging occupations. GCDCPC has contracted with the Workforce Consortium to develop awareness programs that will educate guidance counselors and school administrators and support regional workforce development efforts in Green Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Systems, Nanotechnology and Bioscience areas. Schedule for educator’s programs are as follows:

• Green Technology Careers – March 27, 2009 at the Schenectady Museum
• Bioscience Technology Jobs – April 24, 2009 Location TBD
• Nanotechnology Careers – May 29, 2009 Location TBD

Contact Ted Hennessey if you are interested in attending any other these events.

The Workforce Consortium will also support the mission of the GCDCPC by helping to identify industry partners who can share the expertise and provide direction for curriculum development and equipment purchases to enhance programming.