LEARNING THROUGH WORKING
This event is complete, you can view the recordings here.
Many American labor experts have looked upon Europe’s vocational education and training (VET) systems with admiration. One of the great strengths of these systems has been the way in which they have fulfilled important economic objectives, such as furnishing firms with a steady supply of skilled workers, while at the same time performing critical social inclusion functions, such as opening a pathway for lower-income and non-academically inclined youth to acquire the training they need to find stable, well-paid employment.
This symposium will host thought leaders from all parts of the vocational and apprenticeship equation to discuss how we can expand and create new training opportunities that prepare workers for the jobs of the future. We will hear from educators, policymakers, industry leaders, and apprentices about how to build upon current successes in job training. Please join us and help to set a new agenda for bridging the education / workforce gap through quality apprenticeships.
The conference is hosted by MIT Open Learning and MassBridge, a state-wide effort to build new education models for advanced skills.
SCHEDULE
MAY 19
INTRODUCTION TO MASSBRIDGE
11 a.m.
Christine Nolan, Director, The Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech
William Bonvillian, Lecturer, Science Technology & Society, and Senior Director, Special Project, (MIT)
STATE BASED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS
11:15 a.m.
Amy Firestone, Vice President, Apprenticeship Carolina (South Carolina)
Denise Miller, State Apprenticeship Expansion Manager (Colorado)
Kathryn Castelloes, Director, ApprenticeshipNC (North Carolina)
Melisa Stark, Commissioner of Apprenticeship Programs (Utah Department of Workforce Services)
George Westerman (Moderator), Principal Research Scientist, Workforce Learning, MIT Office of Open Learning
KEYNOTE: THE STATE OF MA APPRENTICESHIPS
12:05 p.m.
Patrick Mitchell, Director, Apprenticeship & Work-Based Learning (Massachusetts)
BREAK
12:30 p.m.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S ROLE IN APPRENTICESHIPS
12:40 p.m.
Dr. Rebecca Lake (Moderator), Apprenticeship Consultant
Chad Bridgman, Director of Work-Based Learning (Sinclair Community College)
Chrissy Cooney, Business Engagement, Workforce Business Solutions (Lorain CCC)
Sarah Janes, Associate Vice Chancellor of Continuing and Professional Development (San Jacinto College)
Kathleen Canfield, Director, Job Placement Recourse Center (Harper College)
HEARING FROM THE APPRENTICES
1:30 p.m.
Meghan Abella-Bowen (Moderator), Senior Program Manager (Massachusetts Technology Collaborative)
Travis Barrett, Software Engineer (JPMorgan Chase)
Chad Robinson, Training Specialist (Siemens Energy)
Rhonda Williams, Electrician (Ford Motors)
Oscar Aquino, Media Artist (Loop Lab)
BREAK
2:20 p.m.
KEYNOTE: IMPORTANCE OF STRONG APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS
2:30 p.m.
Adrienne Summers, Executive Director of Apprenticeship (AACC)
WHAT’S NEXT FOR US APPRENTICESHIPS - FIRESIDE CHAT
2:55 p.m.
Jennifer Carlson, Co-Founder and Executive Director (Apprenti)
Deborah Kobes, Deputy Director, Center for Apprenticeship (JFF)
Diana Jarboe, Apprenticeship Project Director (KCTCS)
Jared Shank, Director, Apprenticeship Initiatives and Special Projects (OH Higher Ed)
Steve Nelson, Program Manager (MIT Open Learning)
CLOSING COMMENTS
3:45 p.m.
MassTech and MIT Open Learning
SPEAKERS
Senior Program Manager, The Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech (CAM)
MEGHAN ABELLA-BOWEN
Meghan Abella-Bowen is a Senior Program Manager at the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at MassTech where she oversees several programs including MassBridge and the Advanced Manufacturing Training program. In her role she supports key stakeholder relations with industry, academia and government focused on advanced manufacturing talent and workforce initiatives. Before coming to MassTech she was the Associate Dean of STEM at Bristol Community College where she oversaw numerous state and federal initiatives, including two NSF – Advanced Technology Education grants in engineering technology.
ABOUT US
The mission of Open Learning is to transform teaching and learning at MIT and around the globe through the innovative use of digital technologies.
We fulfill our mission by:
Supporting MIT faculty and students in bold experiments to enhance our residential education
Promoting and enabling quantitative, rigorous, inter-disciplinary research on teaching and learning
Providing platforms for digital education
Sharing research and best practice by convening and partnering with schools, universities, companies, NGOs and governments
Extending MIT’s knowledge to the world.
The goal of the MassBridge project is to develop and test a well-connected, state-based training and career pathway model - a “Bridge” for technicians that spans the gaps between the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ state-wide advanced manufacturing programs and the needs of the Manufacturing USA Institutes.
This program is part of a two part series, the first part "Community Colleges and Beyond" can be viewed here.