Workforce & Education
Arizona’s Workforce Strength
Arizona’s businesses, universities, community colleges and primary schools work closely to develop connections between education and industry that cultivate workforce strength. Arizona’s universities award more degrees in natural sciences and engineering than anywhere else in the country, and all work closely with employers to deliver a curriculum and, ultimately, a workforce that is highly knowledgeable in industry-specific requirements.
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Universities/Research
K-12 STEM Programs
Apprenticeships
Competitions
Strategic Partnerships
Arizona State University (ASU)
As one of the world’s leading research and education institutions, ASU is home to one of the country’s three altitude chambers; the Flexible Display Center; the Center on Adaptive, Intelligence, Materials and Systems (CAIMS); and the Airworthiness Assurance Center of Excellence. ASU has participated in every major NASA planetary science mission since Apollo first put man on the moon.
Known around the world for the College of Optical Sciences, the Department of Planetary Sciences and the College of Engineering, the UA provides baccalaureate and graduate degree programs for highly motivated students who are pursuing careers in aerospace and defense areas. The UA led NASA’s $420 million Phoenix Mars Mission, and is awarded more NASA grants than any other university in the country. The UA is ranked first in NSF funding in physical sciences and 16th among public universities in overall research funding. The UA is at the forefront of developing technologies used in applications from bio-sensing to UAVs. Example projects include understanding the black hole at the center of our own galaxy, building cameras and large mirrors that have been installed in the largest Earth and space telescopes, and building systems for sensor data collection for intelligence and autonomous system decision-making.
Northern Arizona University (NAU)
Located in Flagstaff, NAU has developed a curriculum that aligns perfectly with the state’s aerospace and defense initiatives. This includes diverse astrophysics programs, mechanical engineering, aerospace and defense research, adaptive research and materials, advanced composites and optomechanics.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Founded just 22 years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight, Embry Riddle is recognized as one of the best aviation and aerospace universities in the world. The curriculum covers the operation, engineering, research, manufacturing, marketing and management of modern aircraft and the systems that support them. The university has a deep pool of talented researchers and highly advanced students who regularly conduct extensive research that addresses the unique needs of aviation, aerospace and related industries.
Two-Year Colleges and Vocational Training
Maricopa Community Colleges (MCC)
The nation’s largest community college system, MCC offers associates degrees and certificates of completion in fields such as aerospace manufacturing, aviation maintenance and airway science.
Chandler-Gilbert Community College (C-GCC)
Aviation maintenance programs at C-GCC are certificate/degree and university transfer programs that have been designed for students to meet the aviation industry’s need for well-prepared technicians. Technical specialties include aircraft maintenance, electronics/avionics and aircraft construction.
Purpose-Driven Education Continuum
Corporate and public education collaboration between Boeing and Mesa public schools provides students both hands-on experience and special math skills programs. High school vocational training, provided by the Arizona Department of Education, offers a variety of programs useful to high-tech employers, including IT, drafting and design technology, electronics technology and industrial manufacturing. Primary education initiatives that involve innovative programs at the university and community college levels reach down to grades K – 12 to develop interest and awareness in mathematics, the sciences and engineering.
K – 12 STEM Education Programs
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Galileo Project, Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) – Funded by SFAz, the Galileo Project is a program in which powerful telescopes called Galileoscopes are built by students in afterschool programs and used to teach children important concepts in science, optics and mathematics.
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Project Lead the Way – Project Lead the Way is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing an engaging pre-engineering curriculum for middle and high school students across the country.
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Arizona Tooling and Machining Association (ATMA) – ATMA is comprised of more than 150 regular and associate member companies throughout Arizona, specializing in the provision of precision tooling and machining for the aerospace and defense sectors, as well as many others.
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The Joint Alliance of Companies Managing Education for Technology (JACMET) – JACMET is a self-supporting group providing affordable and accessible career-long learning opportunities for engineers and technical professionals through a tactical curriculum, and strategic partnerships with businesses and universities.
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FIRST® Robotics Competition – High school students and their mentors spend six weeks designing and building robots from a “kit of parts” designed to enhance problem-solving skills, then enter the robots into a series of competitions designed by engineers and other professionals. FIRST® designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology and engineering.
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International Science Fair – The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) is the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, and the premier global science competition for students in grades 9 – 12. More than 1,600 high school students from around the world gather to showcase their independent research.
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Security and Defense Systems Initiative (SDSI)
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