Taking Business to School Case Study: Pratt & Whitney


Taking Business to School: Pratt & Whitney, Muscogee County School District, Columbus (Georgia) Technical College.
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In ACTE’s newest piece in our “Taking Business to School” series, we focus on the strong partnership between jet engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, Columbus Technical College, and the Muscogee County School District. This partnership, dubbed “Flight Plan to Success” is a work-based learning internship program that allows high school students in Muscogee and Harris counties to take a certified manufacturing course at Columbus Technical College and then work part-time at Pratt & Whitney’s Columbus, Georgia factory for a semester. Upon completion of the program, students earn recognition as Certified Manufacturing Specialists (CMS).

This partnership has gained praise for the way it prepares students to fill high-skilled aerospace manufacturing positions. It was named a 2013 Georgia Youth Apprenticeship Unique Private-Public Partnership of the Year and a finalist for the 2012 Georgia STEM Partnership of the Year.

Read what ACTE members have to say below:

“The latest profile in the ACTE Taking Business to School series answers the call for increasing apprenticeship as a pathway to career and economic success, closing the skills gap in manufacturing, and eliminating the disconnect between industry, education, and post-secondary training. This is the result when all players are at the table and engaged.”

-Alex Gromada, ACTE Trade & Industrial Education Division Leader

“This article effectively illustrates the importance of work-based learning partnerships that allow students to develop real world engineering, technology, and critical thinking skills. The ACTE eTED division membership envisions STEM related skills as the cornerstone of innovative practices and a sound vibrant economy.”

-Paul Asunda, ACTE Engineering & Technology Education Division Leader

The latest profile in the ACTE Taking Business to School series demonstrates that its not business as usual in our nation’s schools when it comes to partnerships that matter for our student’s success

-Juli Gilyard, ACTE Region II Leader

Previously in our Taking Business to School series:

UPS Case Study
Siemens Case Study
Milacron Case Study
Hypertherm Case Study
AAR Case Study
PG&E Case Study
Toyota T-TEN Case Study