New Grant Gets Utah ‘WIRED’ for Education and Life Sciences Training
By Johnson, Frances
Utah’s strong economy recently received another boost as the state was awarded a $5 million federal grant through the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) Initiative, earmarked for education and training in the life sciences.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), in partnership with individuals and companies playing a role in the state’s life sciences industry and life science workforce development, drafted a proposal for the state in late 2005.
The foundation of the WIRED proposal and application was a two- year biotechnology program at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) developed about six years ago, said Tami Goetz, state science advisor. The SLCC program was highlighted due to its close ties to workforce development, as well as its ties to local high schools. SLCC offers a one-year STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program for high school juniors and seniors.
“The program is intended to train people to be work-ready,” Goetz said. “It’s a diverse industry that we have here, with diverse needs.”
Initially, the state received $100,000 for planning and technical assistance in the first year, and the $5 million grant followed soon after. While that money has yet to he specifically allocated, Goetz said, a basic plan for how it will he used has already been developed.
First, SLCC will partner with Utah Valley State College (UVSC) to expand its existing two-year program to a fouryear biotechnology degree for those students interested in continuing.
Granite Technical has also teamed with SLCC to form a new biomanufacturing program, which will teach skills connected to the current biotechnology prograin. Those skills include putting together and working in clean-room environments, quality and assurance control, process validation and compliance with FDA regulations.
“The need to create a biomanufacturing program came from us talking to the industry and saying, ‘What’s the next step?’ ” Goetz said. “By meeting the needs of the industry we also provide more diverse job options for students once they graduate.”
Existing high school programs will now include a biomanufacturing element as well and will be expanded to new locations. Sixteen high schools currently have programs that follow a state-mandated core curriculum in biotechnology but many schools in the region, particularly in more rural areas, don’t have access to those programs.
“The students in that community and the industry in that community will benefit from kids being exposed to biotech as a career,” Goetz said. “Give them as many options as possible in an industry that needs them. And keep in mind, these are high-tech, high-paid jobs.”
Adult education is the final component of the state’s WIRED Initiative and involves a partnership with the Department of Workforce Services. Through the initiative, Department of Workforce Services clients, including displaced and underemployed workers, can be retrained in biotechnology, biomanufacturing and the life sciences, which includes medical devices, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals in both the private and public sectors. The eventual intended range of the programs is “K through gray.”
“These are programs that have been shown to be very successful in other places,” Goetz said of the initiative’s adult education component. “We provide as many entry and exit points as possible. It’s not just a job. It’s a career we’re after here.”
And that career doesn’t necessarily have to be in science or engineering, either. WIRED programs teach students to find and solve problems in any industry or situation, Goetz said, including medicine, environmental work or agriculture. Other workplace skills embedded in the curriculum include presentation skills, communication skills and being able to read scientific literature and recap the data.
“They’re very translatable,” Goetz said.
The programs also teach skills and experience specific to the biotechnology and life sciences fields, including math skills, hands- on laboratory experience, critical and analytical thinking, data analysis and small motor skills, as well as opportunities to design and execute experiments.
“The skills and aptitudes that are embedded in the coursework are industry-defined,” Goetz said. “The kids are getting the best education and training to make them competitive.”
GOED specifically selected the life sciences for the focus of the WIRED application because it is a strong economic cluster – something the state is already doing well that has the potential to grow.
“The life sciences industry in Utah is strong and thriving,” Goetz said. “We’re looking at what we call a bio-based economy in many ways. I think you’re going to see it keep growing.”
Biotech and life sciences companies will also be drawn to the state and existing companies will continue expanding in the state, as the WIRED funded programs turn out increasing numbers of qualified potential employees. Graduates of Utah’s programs will also be competitive in other markets around the country, and the world.
“Every state is facing growth in this industry,” Goetz said. “They become part of a viable, flexible workforce. It’s about workforce development to help economic development.”
Copyright Enterprise Business Newspaper Inc. Aug 20, 2007
(c) 2007 Enterprise, The; Salt Lake City. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.