“…The collaborative will build an industry-education network and facilitate multiple projects that will increase job awareness and preparedness among students and job seekers and allow educators in both K-12 and higher education institutions to build and refine curricula that are in tune with workforce needs in this economically distressed and coal-impacted region.”
What We’re Working On
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Work-Based Learning Opportunities (WBL) include field trips, job shadowing, micro internships, internships, co-ops, and externships.
This initiative aims to work with employers to develop WBL opportunities and match them with interested students.
“Students are more interested and engaged in learning after they have spent some time in a job shadow or internship. They come back into the classroom ready to learn and are more serious students.”
Industry Advisory Boards
Industry Advisory Boards (IAB) are an important feedback mechanism to inform and modify the curriculum being taught.
This feedback improves the work readiness of graduates, giving industry entry-level employees who can be more effective faster.
This initiative aims to build on already successful advisory board models at Fairmont and Glenville and expand them into other disciplines that don’t currently utilize them.
VR Job Shadows
We plan on completing Virtual Reality Job Shadow videos so students can learn about various STEM careers and have a ‘day in the life’ experience.
This helps students have these experiences in real-world situations where they might not be able to go in person, and also makes these experiences readily available to a much wider audience.
Founding Partners
We are deeply grateful to the Appalachian Regional Commission for funding this work, along with our founding partners, for their continued support in bettering our communities. Please click on their logos and take a look at their important contributions to their communities.
