Work-based Learning Prepares Advantage Valley Students for Bright Futures
Public schools, colleges and local businesses are working together to help students develop in-demand skills.
In the Advantage Valley, apprenticeships and internship training programs help bridge the gap between what students learn in the classroom and practical application. Public schools, area colleges and local businesses work together to help students cultivate a diverse range of skills that are highly sought after in the job market.
For example, when Nucor Corporation announced that it was investing $2.7 billion to build a steel mill in Apple Grove, the company also pledged to donate $1 million to Mason County Schools as part of an effort to grow its workforce pipeline. The company even set aside 25 seats in its Nucor Technical Academy in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for Mason County high school graduates.
On-the-Job Training in the Advantage Valley
Another prime example is the Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) Work Sponsorship Program, spearheaded by the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME). The two-year program blends classroom instruction at BridgeValley Community and Technical College with on-site experience at Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia (TMMWV) in Putnam County.
“Students have an opportunity to get paid while learning the technological foundations and best practices of a world-class manufacturer,” says David Rosier, TMMWV president.
“Through AMT and several other initiatives, TMMWV is focused on helping the next generation reach their potential and find careers in manufacturing that allow them to grow, thrive and be contributing members of our community.”
After five semesters, students will have earned an associate degree in applied science in advanced manufacturing technology and two years of work experience. Toyota gains a workforce with problem-solving, critical thinking and effective communication skills; simultaneously, workers develop essential qualities for success in the workplace, like a strong work ethic, adaptability and the ability to collaborate within a team.
“Any time Toyota invests in the future workforce, we see a great return. This program is our pipeline for future employees. For students, there is simply no substitute for this kind of immersive experience. They are in the plant, working alongside our exceptional industrial maintenance technicians. Maintenance techs work with cutting-edge technology to maintain the line and keep it running. When there is an issue, the maintenance techs are the machine’s first responders,” Rosier says.
“This is appealing to a generation who loves to problem solve and use technology. Students also get to see that today’s factory is a bright, clean, high-tech space that fosters innovation and collaboration. Through this program, students earn highly sought-after skills to succeed in the modern workplace, all while getting paid.”
Powerful Partnerships Throughout the Region
Morganne Tenney, executive director of the Putnam County Development Authority (PCDA), says when industry and education connect through programs – such as the AMT Work Sponsorship Program – it allows industry to share what they need in a qualified workforce and allows education to construct programs based on those industry needs.
“When students have the skills based on industry need, it’s more of a fluid transition from the classroom to the manufacturing or plant,” Tenney says. “We want our students to remain in our communities. We love connecting industry to education, whether it’s introducing career pathways to elementary or middle schools or connecting industry to career and technical education centers, colleges and universities. We have close relationships with all those entities, and it’s important that we connect those businesses to these educational resources.”
Rosier says the rapid pace of innovation requires a collective effort to create pathways to the high-tech, high-growth jobs of the future.
“From self-driving cars and electric vehicles to artificial intelligence and machine learning, the future will be far different than today. We are on the cusp of another automotive revolution. That change requires a different education system,” Rosier says.
“We work with institutions across the educational spectrum – from higher education to middle schools – to make sure students are prepared to face those challenges and have the academic background necessary to maintain Toyota West Virginia’s place as an industry leader. We also want them to know they can stay in the Mountain State and have interesting, rewarding careers.”
Enrollment Rises at Community and Technical Colleges
Student enrollment at four-year colleges and universities in West Virginia declined from 2021 to 2022, but enrollment increased at the state’s community and technical colleges. In addition, high school students taking dual enrollment courses through community and technical colleges also rose from 2021 to 2022, according to the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission.
Advantage Valley has four highly rated community and technical colleges that offer dual enrollment or pre-apprenticeship opportunities for high schoolers. Those higher institutions are BridgeValley Career & Technical College, Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (formerly called Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Manufacturing), Mountwest Community & Technical College and Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College.
BridgeValley has campuses in South Charleston and Montgomery, and 2,000+ students take classes in courses such as business, computer/IT, mechatronics and welding. Also on campus is a program that allows students to earn an associate degree while being paid for working at a local manufacturer.
Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center has campuses in Huntington and South Charleston, and is designated a national Center of Excellence for composite materials, even providing support to NASA as well as first-tier Department of Defense suppliers.
In Huntington, Mountwest offers courses in fields such as business, CAD, drone technology, engineering, machinist technology, mobile app development and welding. The college has about 1,300 students. The Mountwest Maritime Academy on campus provides U.S. Coast Guard training for entry-level deckhands.
At Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College, two of its many locations are in Advantage Valley (Boone and Lincoln counties), providing workforce programs in areas such as agriculture, electromechanical instrumentation, IT, mechatronics and welding.
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