The nature of work, especially in manufacturing, has evolved more rapidly than the way that we think about work. And the ways that we prepare (educate) people for work have not kept pace with our changing needs. A work-based learning model, coupled with high school, community college and university education, is a technique that has delivered considerable success in meeting the demand for skilled workers for manufacturers and others. Becoming involved in work-based learning initiatives is a useful and perhaps necessary strategy for manufacturers to employ if they hope to ensure the availability of the next generation of skilled workers that will be required to sustain and grow business.
Work-based learning encompasses a variety of programs that we have called apprenticeships, internships, co-ops, and externships. What all of these programs have in common is that they combine practical, hands-on work experience with both theoretical and practical classroom learning. Where the programs differ is in the formal relationships between the student, the employer, and the school. Each term also carries some pre-conceived but not necessarily correct notions that can get in the way of moving forward to real and useful outcomes. For all of these programs, the best results are obtained when there is true collaboration among the parties so that the students, educators and employers all win.
