ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Apprenticeships are helping North Carolina employers build the skilled workforce they need while giving students an opportunity to earn a paycheck, gain hands-on experience, and prepare for high-demand careers.
The latest episode of Golden LEAF Critical Conversations explores how North Carolina's community college system, local colleges, school systems, and employers are working together to expand registered apprenticeships and strengthen workforce pipelines, particularly in rural communities.
In this episode:
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Dr. Chris Harrington, Director of ApprenticeshipNC, explains what makes registered apprenticeships different from other work-based learning opportunities, why employers are investing in the model, and how ApprenticeshipNC is working to expand and streamline apprenticeship opportunities across the state.
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Candice Lowder, Associate Vice President of Career Connections at Stanly Community College, shares how Golden LEAF-supported engineering and IT pathways are connecting high school students with career opportunities and discusses the partnerships and employer relationships needed to build successful apprenticeship programs.
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Denise Young, Director of Apprenticeships at Southeastern Community College, discusses how the college has built a strong apprenticeship ecosystem with schools, employers, and workforce partners and shares how apprenticeships are helping students launch careers, employers develop talent, and communities retain skilled workers.
Listeners will learn how registered apprenticeships create long-term workforce pipelines, why strong partnerships are essential to their success, and how these programs can provide students with a pathway to education, employment, and economic opportunity while helping employers meet future workforce needs.
