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STUFFMadeInCT.com | Fall 202 0 • STUFF 17 are learning welding, they have jobs, our students aren't having a problem finding employers," Thermer said. "So that's a good thing." The reasoning behind this is because these careers are always needed, and employers want to get back to producing, as well as getting back to the economy before the pandemic, he said. "They still gotta make a lot of parts," Thermer said. "And the supply chain, those thousands of small manufacturing firms, they're making a lot of parts for them, so they need a lot of workers, and they're all doing what they can to hold onto these workers, and upscale them." The office of the dean of the School of Engineering at Fairfield University gave emphasis on other reasons why STEM careers are needed. "What excites our new graduates is the fact that their skills are needed to solve some of the world's grand engineering challenges," the office of the dean said. "These include providing access to clean water, developing carbon sequestration methods, discovering new clean sources of energy, engineering better medicines, securing cyberspace, and improving urban infrastructure." Fairfield University engineering graduates are beginning careers in healthcare device manufacturing, aerospace engineering, government, construction, research and development, enterprise software, and consulting. Goals for the future of STEM education With already various plans and innovative strategies in place to increase STEM education, these universities continue to set goals for the future. Fairfield Engineering is looking toward expanding its courses, and enhancing its programs, as well as broadening the reach and real world relevance of their STEM offerings. Fairfield University has also introduced two new master's degrees programs in cybersecurity and data science. "Students don't just study in the classroom," the office of the dean said. "They build Baja racing cars, drones, robots, and 3D printed medical prosthetics. We are also in the process of setting up a facility which will become the Innovation Studio and will be run and managed by STEM students. In this facility, equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, etc. will be available to support student creativity across campus." Other goals reiterated between Goodwin University and UConn relate toward the continuation of providing skilled graduates to the workforce. "STEM fields play a large role in driving research expenditures," Lejuez said. "Then, if you look at the hands-on experiences that are central to STEM education. We are proud of our role in driving the state's economy, through educating a highly skilled workforce, as well as our opportunities for partnership and research with industries in the state." Thermer sees colleges and universities increasingly working together to fill STEM fields, putting emphasis on educating future STEM students. "We have to work with those companies," Thermer said. "To provide them the workforce they need, so we need to be doing more than that, and we need to keep our fingers on the pulse of where's manufacturing going, where's industry 4.0 going, what is the integration of computers, and machining and all of this, and how to do it better, faster, for less will always be the thing that keeps us competitive." "We've seen that happening over the last five years like never before, and it's such a good thing to be happening," he said. "At the end of the day, it's Team Connecticut. We are all in this together." 1st Connecticut's rank among Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Jersey and New York for highest annual manufacturing earnings for production workers. S Fairfield University School of Engineering School: Fairfield University Location: Fairfield Year program started: 1994 Program's focus: Bioengineering, computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering Fairfield University students (from left) Drew Jobson, Class of 2020 and Evan Fair, Class of 2022, with the face shields they are building P H O T O | C O U RT E S Y O F FA I R F I E L D U N I V E R S I T Y