FLATE Joins the FloridaMakes Network, Partnering with the Florida Department of Education

FloridaMakes and FLATE Announces Partnership with the Florida Department of Education to Promote Economic Opportunity Through Manufacturing Workforce Education

Partnership aims to bridge the skills gap and fill jobs in Florida’s growing manufacturing sector that drives nearly 5% of Florida’s GDP

Orlando, FL – Today, FloridaMakes and the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE) announced a partnership that brings together the manufacturing and education community aimed toward creating economic opportunity in Florida’s growing manufacturing sector. This partnership, made possible through a financial commitment between the Florida Department of Education and FloridaMakes, ensures the continued operation of Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE) and its mission of supporting advanced manufacturing education in the state.

The partnership project will focus on regions that have specific skills gaps and an insufficient supply of workers with those needed skills. Based on the 2019 Career and Technical Education (CTE) state audit and the priorities outlined by the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Leadership Council, the project will bring together key stakeholders aimed at the following goals: develop an asset map of educational resources for manufacturers; review industry credentials alignment to industry needs; develop curriculum for advanced technologies and entrepreneurship; provide professional development for educators including the ET Forum; and, support manufacturing student organizations.

“Building on its 16-year history as a National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Center, FLATE is looking forward to working with FloridaMakes and the Florida Department of Education not only to continue our work with Florida’s STEM and manufacturing educators but to expand it into many related advanced technology fields supporting Florida industry,” said Dr. Marilyn Barger, Executive Director of FLATE. “We look forward to bringing educators and manufactures together regularly to learn from each other and to help prepare the best possible skilled workforce for Florida’s future.”

“We are excited to be a part of this dynamic partnership,” said Kevin Carr, CEO of FloridaMakes. “It puts solutions in action towards addressing the skills gap in manufacturing. The sector seeks to fill 4.6 million high-skill, high-tech, and high-paying jobs over the next decade. This partnership helps us to prepare the next generation of Floridians to fill those jobs.”

“An education separated from industry is no education at all,” says Dr. Henry Mack,  Chancellor for Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the Florida Department of Education. “We need industry partners at the table to help inform curriculum standards and objectives, inspire and ignite learning, engage and help students apply their knowledge. This new partnership will ensure this synergy. Excellence in manufacturing and advanced technology education matters for the success of Florida’s economy.”

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