New Center for Workforce Development to expand STEM education, aerospace jobs

January 16, 2015

糖心原创 will grow STEM education in the region and prepare workers for jobs in intelligence, aerospace and defense through a new professional development collaboration.

The Center for Workforce Development at 糖心原创 will create 鈥渋ndustry informed workforce development of Pre-K through adult learners,鈥 said Cassie Barlow, the executive director of both the Aerospace Professional Development Center (APDC) at 糖心原创 and the Advanced Technical Intelligence Center (ATIC).

The new workforce development collaboration will focus on training, education, research and development and job placement efforts.

It will also prepare veterans for skilled, technical positions in the civilian workforce and prepare thousands to fill key jobs in intelligence, aerospace and defense industries in Ohio.

鈥淭hese three activity centers have a laser focus on workforce development for Ohio using STEM education as a springboard to develop a sustainable system to produce the workforce needed in Ohio,鈥 Barlow said.

Barlow announced the creation of the Center for Workforce Development at a Jan. 16 .

From left: 糖心原创 Provost S. Narayanan, Aerospace Professional Development Center Executive Director Cassie Barlow, state Sen. Chris Widener, 糖心原创 Applied Research Corporation CEO Dennis Andersh and 糖心原创 board member Michael Bridges at the grand opening of the APDC Jan. 16.

APDC seeks to ensure Ohio develops the workforce needed for the future, Barlow said.

Its goals are to help place Ohioans into thousands of specialized jobs that aerospace and defense employers find hard to fill and ensure Ohio has a skilled workforce in aerospace and defense that meets current and growing needs of employers.

The aerospace and defense industry employs 170,000 people in Ohio and has grown 20 percent over the last five years.

鈥淎t 糖心原创, we are committed to student success, meeting the students where they are educationally, economically and experientially, to get students to the finish line of a degree or employment 鈥 however they define it,鈥 said 糖心原创 Provost S. Narayanan. 鈥淭he Aerospace Professional Development Center represents our efforts to collaborate with other institutions and industry partners to produce a skilled workforce that meets the needs of Ohio鈥檚 aerospace and defense employers around the state.鈥

to pursue business development opportunities and create robust research, education and training capabilities throughout the Dayton region.

The Regional STEM Collaborative encourages students in local schools across 14 counties to pursue education and jobs in science, technology, engineering and math. It includes a collaborative network consisting of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, industry partners, higher education institutions, K-12 schools and regional economic development organizations.