As Central Florida diversifies its industries through sectors
such as digital media, photonics, simulation and renewable and
sustainable energy, technology companies are anticipated to grow
through entrepreneurship, relocation and expansion. With this
projected increase, the region must be prepared to provide the
science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), as well as new and
emerging industries needed to staff these companies.
To build this workforce, the region must address several
challenges:
- Increase our local youth’s interest in STEM and new and
emerging careers and inspire them to pursue education in these
subjects.
- Educate the region’s teachers in STEM and new and emerging
careers.
- Retain students in these college majors.
WCF addresses these challenges through a three-pronged
approach: K-12 student recruitment into STEM and new and emerging
majors and careers; teacher preparedness and readiness to teach
STEM and new and emerging subjects; and retention in STEM and
emerging majors/training.
As a Central Florida employer you can get involved in one of
WCF’s projects for these initiatives, such as:
- Apply for ACTS, or Applied Career Training
Skills, that provides qualified interns with skills and
certifications in STEM and new and emerging industries
(NEI) to employers in Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and
Sumter counties who are facing difficulty finding employees with
these skills and certifications. Through this program, WCF
offers qualified companies the opportunity to select interns to
work in a STEM or NEI job for 20-30 hours a week for 16 weeks,
while earning $10-12 per hour -- all paid for by WCF. The
program provides participants with real-world work experience in
the industry sectors they have studied, while allowing employers to
increase productivity and evaluate potential employees on the job
before offering a permanent role. WCF is searching for
employers with the following qualifications:
- Nonprofit or government agencies or for-profit employers with
STEM/New and Emerging job opportunities
- Company must be located in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake or
Sumter counties
- Click
here to apply for ACTS today.
- Serve as a worksite for undergraduate students to gain
STEM-related work experience. (STEM In-School Work
Experience).
- Become a site for 180 students and 20 teachers to visit for a
half-day tour. (WCF Industry Days)
- Present about your industry to five elementary school fifth
grade classes to develop STEM awareness. (WCF STEM College Shadow
Day)
- Sponsor a Girl Scout Troop that will focus on competitive
robotics. (WCF Girl Scouts Troop)
- Females may be a mentor for college freshmen women who are
majoring in STEM. (Women Mentoring Program in STEM)
- Participate as an industry partner at a community event
designed to increase community awareness to STEM. (STEM Days)
- Participate as an industry partner at a community event
designed to increase community awareness to biotechnology.
(Biotechnology Industry Days)
- Recruit a participant from WCF’s Renewable and Sustainable
Energy training program to work for your company. (Renewable and
Sustainable Energy Job Placement)
If you are interested in becoming involved in any of the above
initiatives, please contact Nirmala Ramlakhan at
nramlakhan@wcfla.com.
Industry Partners
Our initiatives would not be successful without the support of our
partners:
