Technical Education for Communities (TEC) is helping students around the world secure good jobs through school-based, industry-supported vocational skills training by:
- collaborating with schools and teachers on a proven, research-backed educational framework
- building partnerships that will commit resources to students and job opportunities to graduates.
TEC’s standardised education platform helps education partners develop market-relevant curriculum, teacher training, career guidance and the practical experience needed by students. TEC focuses on post-secondary two- to three-year programs that award certificates recognized by governments, markets or trade groups.
TEC’s success is measured by improved educational outcomes, skills and job acquisition and access for underserved populations.
TEC was started by Cummins Inc. in 2012 when company leaders discovered a growing gap in the availability of skilled workers and the harm it was causing communities. Today, students at 13 schools in nine countries are participating in TEC, with the first graduating class planned for 2016.
The problem
Employers around the world are experiencing critical shortages of skilled technical workers. Young people in our communities lack employable skills, including technical and language skills, as well as problem solving, analysis and the proper attitudes and belief systems for success.
Today some 10 million manufacturing jobs worldwide are unfilled because of shortages in technical capabilities and 'soft skills', which include interpersonal communications and problem-solving. In developing countries, more than 200 million adolescents do not have the technical background needed for employment.
Without significant new sources of support, weak or inadequate education systems will be unable to reverse those trends, which are leading to increased unemployment, poverty and economic instability around the world.
TEC can provide schools the tools needed to equip youth with market-relevant skills and prepare them for today's workforce.
The solution
To effectively address communities' growing technical skills gaps, Cummins analyzed historic trends in countries' vocational education programs and extracted best practices that lead to student success.
Borne out of that research was TEC's multi-faceted approach to engaging students, parents, school leaders, teachers and industry partners: the Five-Element Framework:
- Market-Relevant Skills
- Quality Curriculum
- Effective Teachers
- Career Guidance
- Workplace Learning
Integral to TEC's implementation and success are coalitions of industry partners. Working together with schools, industries provide students the needed workplace experiences and, eventually, good-paying skills-based jobs.
As TEC grows, so too do opportunities for student success, gainful employment and stronger communities.