We engage and collaborate with employers and are informed by data to determine the trends that will define our future regional economies," added Sandra Sanchez, Vice Chancellor, California Community College Chancellor's Office. "Wayne Gretzky's adage that 'you don't go to where the puck is, but where the puck will be' is what California community colleges do every day. region in conjunction with the consortium of community colleges in Los Angeles County. In turn, we believe this will scale in-demand programs across the L.A. The long-term vision of the program is to create post-secondary certificate and degree programs that span blue economy industries and fields of study. Meanwhile, blue economy companies will benefit from having a direct pipeline to a well-trained workforce. This new relationship between SMC and AltaSea will create a myriad of benefits not only for students, but for businesses rapidly expanding in the blue economy.Īll students will be placed in an internship, with a goal to ultimately connect them with a job in their field of study. "We know that the next generation of ocean advocates, business leaders, and experts will rise out of interdisciplinary efforts like this, in spaces where students aren't just educated but activated."
We're thrilled to see how the students of Santa Monica College answer this call," says Jelani Odlum, Senior Associate Program Officer at Builders Initiative. "To save our oceans and shift to a more sustainable global food system, the world needs a rising tide of curiosity, ingenuity, and stewardship, and the classroom is where this all begins. This expertise will allow the industry to rapidly evolve and serve many needs such as providing healthy, locally-sourced protein restoring habitats sequestering carbon, and providing raw inputs for many culinary, industrial, and pharmaceutical products. "That is a staggering number, and we want to position our students for the first opportunities that exist in one of the world's fastest growing business sectors."Īs the industry grows, it will need trained workers with the specific skills and knowledge to hit the ground running. "According to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) Institute of Applied Economics, conservative estimates indicate that the value of the blue economy will double over the next decade, with a projected global value of $3 trillion by 2030," said SMC Superintendent/President Kathryn E. Drawing equitable pathways for workforce training and career placement, the partnership will encourage students to work alongside the world's finest marine scientists as they conduct breakthrough research and discover solutions in areas such as energy supply, climate change, and global food security. "This program will provide students in underserved communities a pathway to good-paying jobs that tackle climate change and our most pressing challenges."Īs part of the program, SMC is partnering with AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, a sprawling 35-acre non-profit center devoted to accelerating scientific collaboration and advancing the blue economy through business innovation and job creation. "I am proud to have secured funding that will give LA students STEM learning experiences in the emerging Blue Economy – a vital and growing sector of California's 21st century economy," Senator Alex Padilla said in an announcement earlier this year.
0 kommentar(er)
