Back in September, we reported on Festo Didactic's plans to bring German-style apprenticeship for manufacturing to the U.S. in order to help alleviate the skills gap manufacturers are seeing across the country, and prevent such a skills gap in future manufacturing generations.
According to an article by Brett Johnson in NJBiz, Festo's new workforce education center in Eatontown, NJ is now operational, and intends to "mend massive shortfalls in training for high-tech manufacturing jobs." The center is to "act as a hub for community colleges and other educational institutions" involved in vocational training and will provide training and support both for students going into manufacturing careers and for the teachers helping them learn the skills they'll need to succeed.
Though economists seem to be divided on the issue, a recent survey suggests the skills gap is dire: 97% of CEOs of major U.S. corporations say the STEM skills gap is a problem for their companies. According to a U.S. News and World Report article on the survey, it is beginning to be understood among business leaders that in order to change this, strong STEM education needs to begin at the elementary school level, a mantra to which Festo Didactic also abides.
Festo Didactic's new workforce education center is an important first of many steps to fixing the problems associated with the skills gap in U.S. manufacturing. For more info read full article here.
Festo Didactic is the educational subsidiary of German equipment manufacturer Festo AG. Festo is a sponsor of the Reshoring Initiative.
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