The Massachusetts Technician Education Collaborative (Mass-TEC) project is seeking to increase interest and pursuit of employment in technical fields among potential workers. This is being achieved by increasing the frequency and effectiveness of advocacy for the technical employment and education conveyed by parents, teachers, and career counselors. Specific project activities include 1) identifying impediments that limit or prevent career influencers from guiding adult job seekers and students toward the pursuit of technician education programs and advanced manufacturing careers; 2) increasing the frequency and effectiveness of career influencers' efforts to guide adult job seekers and students toward pursuit of technician education programs and advanced manufacturing careers; 3) determining a strategy for institutionalizing effective public communications campaign and outreach strategies; and 4) building a replicable model for conducting grassroots public communications and outreach campaigns. Mass-TEC is leveraging the experience of existing NSF ATE projects and centers, utilizing a strong conceptual and results foundation for its work.
