Introducing high school students to ITS as a career option and building an understanding of this field into STEM-focused curriculum is another critical step towards building this future workforce. Specific approaches are needed to introduce ITS into secondary school settings and to provide students with a bridge to post-secondary opportunities, and it is important to attract students from under-represented populations to study and work in ITS disciplines. As with most job sectors, the future of ITS is dependent upon the availability of a large and diverse pool of well-trained and qualified workers. Adopting new strategies of engagement, attraction, and support that focus on non-traditional, under-represented populations is a critical step towards building this future workforce.
T-STEM Webinar Series
In the fall of 2021, the NNTW hosted two Transportation STEM webinars focused on student career pathways that lead to employment as a transportation industry professional. Presented to students and faculty of K-12 institutions, these webinars offer academic and career-path perspective from diverse panels of community college, technical school, and university students, with the goal of engaging the audience around the possibilities and opportunities that a career in the transportation sector can offer.
November 5th, 2021 Webinar Panel:
College & University Students
Watch the recorded webinar. Download the flyer.
December 3rd, 2021 Webinar Panel:
Community College & Tech School Students
Watch the recorded webinar. Download the flyer.
January 28th, 2022 Webinar Panel:
Gannett Fleming & Iowa State DOT
Watch the recorded webinar.
More dates now added for spring 2022! Join us at these upcoming virtual sessions:
Friday, February 25th, register at: https://bit.ly/3FL08eP (flyer)
Friday, March 25th, register at: https://bit.ly/3qHQiG4
Friday, April 29th, register at: https://bit.ly/3fHPDy0
For more information on this NNTW initiative or to contribute to this discussion, please contact:
Dr. Stephanie Ivey, Director of the Southeast Transportation Workforce Center (ssalyers@memphis.edu)
To join an ITS Academic Working Group focused on extending educational activities into secondary settings and building robust career pathways that lead to post-secondary study, job training, and/or employment, please contact:
Glenn McRae, Director of the Northeast Transportation Workforce Center (glenn.mcrae@uvm.edu)