From STEM to Stern: An Education to Industry Research, Action, Change Project to Develop Long-Term Employer-Education Partnerships

研究表明，虽然雇主可能会支持两年制大学信息技术（IT）课程，但他们更有可能雇佣四年制大学毕业生担任IT职位。与此同时，社区学院的技术人员教育项目提供行业驱动的指导，包括强调就业技能。为了解决这个影响美国在全球市场创新和竞争力的问题，国家新兴技术劳动力中心（NWCET）、贝尔维尤社区学院职业中心和哥伦比亚大学社区学院研究中心（CCRC）合作确定雇主对劳动力的IT要求，并通过三管齐下的方式向他们传达受过两年制大学教育的IT技术人员的素质。科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）学科的两年制大学生与雇主和教师导师一起参与工作体验。两年制大学的教师还会参加实习和工作见习等与雇主的交流活动。研究记录了雇主对招聘和留住两年制大学毕业生的看法和接受程度。在项目开始时举行的会议用于确定商业和工业各个层面的人员所看到的行业需求，并为学生指导和教师交流建立联系。

Research has shown that while employers may be supportive of two-year college information technology (IT) programs, they are more likely to hire four-year college graduates for IT positions. At the same time, technician education programs in community colleges provide industry driven instruction including an emphasis on the employability skills. To address this issue that affects U.S. innovation and competitiveness in global markets, the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies (NWCET), the Career Center at Bellevue Community College, and the Community College Research Center at Columbia University (CCRC) partner to determine employers' IT requirements for the workforce and to communicate to them the qualities of two-year college educated IT technicians in a three pronged approach. Two-year college students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines with an IT emphasis engage in workplace experiences with employer and faculty mentors. Two-year college faculty also engage in exchanges with employers such as externships and job shadowing. Research is done to document employer perceptions and receptivity to recruiting and retention of two-year college graduates. A conference held at the beginning of the project is used to determine industry requirements as seen by personnel at various levels in business and industry and to make connections for the student mentoring and faculty exchanges.