Educated Workforce Task Force Meets to Scale Program Reach

In the days before the 2022 Annual Conference in February, the NFPA Board of Directors met over a series of meetings at the Arizona Biltmore to review progress on NFPA’s strategic objectives so far this fiscal year, which runs July 2021-June 2022. This series of meetings included a targeted session for the Educated Workforce Task Force, a group that focuses on improving the programs that support NFPA’s objective to “increase the number of technical college and university students educated in fluid power and connects them to careers in the fluid power industry.” 

This year’s priorities in this area include: 

1. To work to scale reach and impact of Fast Track to Fluid Power initiative. 
2. To continue to scale the reach and impact of the University Power Partners program. 
3. To increase program reach into underserved communities. 

Progress to date includes development of a regional planning map for 12 future Fast Track Hubs to bring more fluid power to high schools and tech schools in strategic areas throughout the country as well as a map for targeted expansion of the Power Partner University Program. We also recently announced Michigan and Iowa as the third and fourth states developing Fast Track Hubs, with Michigan set to launch its hub at Macomb Community College in spring 2022. NFPA staff has also been working to develop targets for underserved communities, which has included engaging HBCUs in programs such as the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge and Fluid Power Clubs. 

What this means for you 

These priorities will help ensure there is a sustainable and strong pipeline of fluid power-educated technical college and university graduates in communities across the country.  

You can get involved and reap the benefits in this area in a number of ways in the next few months: 

1. Share Your Tech School and University Contacts 
   If you know of any schools or organizations that serve underserved communities with STEM education, we would love to know about them! Please contact Amy Zignego at azignego@nfpa.com or Stephanie Scaccianoce at sscaccianoce@nfpa.com and they can connect directly to them with more information about relevant programs.
2. Learn More About Involvement Opportunities  
   NFPA recently launched a new NFPA Foundation website to showcase its workforce development programs and opportunities all in one place. While educators and students are the primary audiences for the website, the site also includes information for industry members to get involved. Learn more about here to get engaged here. 

Many thanks to taskforce participants