Workforce development: a critical interaction between high technology industries and academia

A healthily vibrant region that can support microelectronics and other high technology industries requires a plentiful supply of skilled employees. This workforce spans a spectrum of skills and capabilities. Contributing employees cover a range that includes operational personnel through to skilled professionals. The educational needs and requirements of these workers are durative, i.e. wherever such workers are needed an infrastructure must be established that not only supports the workers´ development, but their continuing needs as well. Few regions within the country are able to meet this demand. This contribution presents an historical perspective of the efforts ongoing in Florida, seeded by the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, to engender a high technology awareness among the populace, provide an integrated manufacturing curriculum within the state educational infrastructure, and provide continuing professional educational development to its existing and future workforce