When creating partnerships a key thing to keep in mind is benefits that the partnership will bring. What is in it for me (WIIFM) is an important step to take when deciding if the partnership makes sense. Looking at benefits for the business, the school, and the students needs to be done to decide if the partnership makes sense. Resources can be scarce and focusing on those partnerships that make sense for all parties involved is the efficient way to move forward.
Partnerships, depending on the type, may require a lot of resources. Does your institution have the resources needed to make it successful, or just enough to get by? If so, you may need to wait until the resources are available. The worse thing you can do in a partnership is create it and have it failed because of lack of resources. Honesty with yourself as to the current availability of resources and to the company about the feasibility of the project will go a long way.
Well-developed partnerships, with employers that care and programs that are customized to the role can create pathways for students that otherwise may not have been available to them, or that they may not have considered. This can also provide a way to fight Occupational Segregation and find companies who care about their employees. Partnerships that lead to employment at companies that provide strong salaries and benefits for students can also have further effect not just on the student, but on their families (2Gen). Think of the long-term return on investment for this partnership.
The chart below shows some benefits that can come from employer-school partnerships.
Resources
Apprenticeships: Occupations and outlook https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2017/article/apprenticeships_occupations-and-outlook.htm
Registered Apprenticeship National Results Fiscal Year 2021. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/apprenticeship/about/statistics/2021
Equity Snapshoot: Apprenticeships in the US: https://sites.ed.gov/hispanic-initiative/2021/11/equity-snapshot-apprenticeships-in-america/
The DUAL Vet System https://www.dualvet.eu/docs/productos/1_The%20Dual%20VET%20system.pdf
Bridging German and US Apprenticeship Models https://www.urban.org/research/publication/bridging-german-and-us-apprenticeship-models
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Workforce Warrior is an education blog, created by a workforce development professional with 20+ years in all areas of workforce development and college programming, including admissions, advising, career services and program development. The goal of Workforce Warrior is to pass on the knowledge collected over the years to fellow workforce and college professionals.
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