Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) hosted 25+ local businesses for its twice-yearly Advisory Board meetings on Thursday, October 27, 2022.
CATEC has longstanding relationships with local businesses that support CATEC program curricula and student work-based learning opportunities. Advisory Board meetings are an opportunity for instructors to hear directly from local employers what they are looking for in job candidates as well as give them guidance on local needs. In partnership, aligned with its workplace readiness skills focus, CATEC provides local industry their next generation of skilled employees ready to enter the workforce.
In an effort to standardize Advisory Board meetings, all 10 CATEC programs will meet simultaneously to solidify partnerships and share information about their programs. Employers will have opportunities to set up job shadow and internships opportunities for students as well as set up participation for spring interview events and CATEC’s annual School-to-Work Signing Day Event. CATEC Director Stephanie Carter says CATEC’s Advisory Board meetings “exemplify partnerships that are key in making sure our students get the most relevant and realistic training in their fields. Whether a partnership is well established with our programs, or a local business is learning more about CATEC, we welcome industry into our school to improve our curriculum, increase work-based learning opportunities, and make job placement connections.”