• Hillsborough Community College

Tampa, FL

FLATE educates and influences the high-tech workforce with its

• Made in Florida campaign, which reaches more than 52,000 Florida students and educators.
• Engineering Technology (ET) degree, which articulates statewide with stackable, industryaligned credentials.
• Partnerships, which build effective, outcomebased relationships with industry, education, and government organizations.
• Baldrige Evaluation Model, which is an industry recognized business evaluation system structured on organizational performance excellence.
• Education expertise, which influences the technical, skill-based content of curricula throughout Florida.

FLATE Builds Interest in Manufacturing

FLATE’s efforts to nurture teens’ interest in manufacturing careers are evident as 17,651 students have expressed interest in high-technology education and careers in response to an advertorial in Florida Trend’s publication NEXT, an annual teen-focused careers publication. More than 5,000 college students are currently enrolled in engineering technology and related degree programs in Florida. Responding to a need expressed by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and Florida industries, FLATE’s Made in Florida campaign provides innovative marketing materials to middle and high school students statewide to generate interest in and to project a positive image of manufacturing education and careers in Florida.

ET Degree Program Meets Expressed Workforce Needs

The Engineering Technology (ET) degree program conceived, engineered, and coordinated by FLATE is the first of its kind to offer a cohesive, comprehensive, and completely articulated inter-institutional program. The ET degree program’s core courses align with Manufacturing Skills Standard Council (MSSC) certification, which is part of the NAM-endorsed certificate system. This gives students the option to join the workforce quickly through an ET certificate program or to apply their certificate toward an associate in science or associate in applied sciences degree.

FLATE’s ET degree program focuses on core courses covering introductory computer-aided drafting, electronics, instrumentation and testing, processes and materials, and quality and safety. By working closely with its Industry Advisory Council, FLATE has expanded degree specializations to include alternative energy, digital design and modeling, and biomedical systems. Ten colleges across Florida currently offer 8 degree specializations and 15 certificates that are preparing students and workers from both rural and metropolitan areas for careers in advanced manufacturing and high-technology industries. FLATE facilitates preparation for entry-level technical workers, too.

Thanks to FLATE’s work with high school frameworks at the state level, high school students can choose career education with an industry certification and be workforce-ready upon graduation. In 2009 to 2010, 14,592 Florida high school students enrolled in engineering technology and related programs.