糖心vlog传媒

糖心vlog传媒 President Ronald L. Rhames joined local high school students after a signing ceremony where they pledged to study Mechatronics at 糖心vlog传媒 through scholarships from Michelin.

The job market for technically educated, well-trained employees is growing rapidly in South Carolina. In response, 糖心vlog传媒 (糖心vlog传媒) is partnering with five area high school Career and Technology Education Centers and 12 industry partners to move technically talented high school students quickly into great-paying jobs in the local manufacturing industry.

The new program, dubbed Pathways to Manufacturing Careers @ 糖心vlog传媒, helps students complete their coursework more quickly while giving them hands-on experience with local businesses as they take classes at 糖心vlog传媒.

鈥溙切膙log传媒 is offering 22 scholarships for high school graduates interested in pursuing careers in welding or mechatronics, two occupations where area manufacturers are looking for new employees,鈥� said Sandra Hackley, 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 Associate Vice President for Career Programs. 鈥淪ome of these students are currently enrolled in high school courses that could lead straight into 糖心vlog传媒 welding or mechatronics programs.鈥�

On the front end, 糖心vlog传媒 is working with its partner high schools to give college credit to students who have taken manufacturing-related courses while in high school. On the back end, the college is working with industry partners to create work-based learning opportunities for the students, including paid internships and apprenticeships.

鈥淲ork experience is a key element of the program to prepare students for careers in manufacturing,鈥� said Hackley. 鈥淲orkforce development in this area is critical to our industries and will impact the future growth and development of the Midlands region.鈥�

Ron Rhames greets Michelin鈥檚 Mike Williams outside of the college鈥檚 Mechatronics lab.

Many of 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 industry partners have multiple positions and can鈥檛 find the skilled employees to fill them. These 鈥渕iddle-skilled鈥� positions often require education and training beyond high school but less than a four-year degree. Middle-skilled careers account for 45 percent of available jobs, but only 29 percent of available workers meet the middle-skilled hiring criteria.

Making sure students and their parents know about these career opportunities is an issue the Pathways to Manufacturing program is working to address.

鈥淢any high school students are unaware of the exciting and well-paying career options they can have by enrolling in 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 industrial programs,鈥� said Hackley. 鈥淲elding and mechatronics are just two of these careers where high pay and job growth are prevalent.鈥�

In the Midlands, welders earn an average of nearly $49,000. The demand for welders in the Midlands is expected to increase by almost 12 percent. In mechatronics, another growing career field, technicians earn an average of $58,000.

鈥淥ur goal is to create a clear pathway from high school to college and employment that creates a lasting pipeline of talent supporting and growing the manufacturing industry in the Midlands,鈥� said Hackley. 

Adding more high schools and manufacturing-related programs and careers into the Pathways to Manufacturing program is already in the works. 糖心vlog传媒 will host a Workforce Pathways Summit on June 6 to bring representatives from school districts and 糖心vlog传媒 together to map out new workforce and career pathways to support the manufacturing industry in the Midlands. High schools interested in participating should contact Gwendolyn Preston at prestong@midlandstech.edu.

Learn more about 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 programs in welding and mechatronics.