Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/883962
F a l l 2 0 1 7 • S T U F F 5 Let me begin by congratulating the publisher of Hartford Business Journal's "Stuff Made in Connecticut" magazine for publication of the inaugural issue. We at the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) are proud to be a sponsor of the publication, and look forward to many years of promoting and celebrating the genius of Connecticut. At CSCU, we have a unique role in supporting and guiding this genius, as we prepare over 80,000 students a year to pursue their dreams. And, since the majority of these students (85 percent) remain in Connecticut after they complete their studies, these graduates go on to take their places in our towns and communities, and make their contributions to the state. Graduates of CSCU's advanced-manufacturing programs represent a great example of this outcome. Available at seven of our community colleges (with individual advanced manufacturing courses offered at three additional colleges), these programs produce highly skilled workers ready to get to work on Day One in any of the 4,000+ manufacturing firms in Connecticut. Just as important, these programs have an historical placement rate of over 90 percent statewide for those who successfully complete them. These are the workers of the future who will help "make the stuff" in Connecticut for generations to come. We have an even greater challenge confronting us in the next 25 to 30 years: Producing the workers needed to fill the expected 25,000 jobs in the next few decades. To meet this challenge, we recently launched a marketing campaign called "Make It. Here." to support enrollment in our seven Advanced Manufacturing Technology Centers. The campaign has been extremely successful to date in terms of generating interest in and awareness of the programs, doubling enrollment and producing over 500 graduates this past May. That's why CSCU's decision to support "Stuff" magazine — and its goal of creating greater awareness of Connecticut's genius — was such an easy one. We are all committed to educating the public about the great things our friends and neighbors think, invent and produce every day in Connecticut — things that make life easier, more productive and more fulfilling for people the world over. Mark E. Ojakian President, CSCU www.ct.edu From our Sponsors When we originally designed Goodwin College's manufacturing curriculum, we invested a great deal of time and energy interviewing business owners throughout the state to ensure that the knowledge our students acquire through our certificate and degree programs is in line with what these important stakeholders — the future employers of our students — need to advance their companies and create jobs in Connecticut. Among the many important lessons we learned was that today's manufacturing grows at breathtaking speed. Today's newest developments are tomorrow's outdated business practices. And while technology is absolutely critical to the growth of any company, it is the vision, creativity, and understanding of humans that will always be what propels us into the future. We also realized that we needed to serve those who have already secured their places in the workforce, but need to stay current on developing their skills. In response, we flipped the usual learning scenario and created our new Advanced Manufacturing Mobile Lab that brings on-site training to employees. I hope the information on Goodwin College's programs inspires you to visit our Business and Manufacturing Center in East Hartford, learn how we're shaping careers, and see how we're collaborating with tomorrow's makers and entrepreneurs. We're betting that you'll want to create a place for yourself in this field of unlimited possibilities. Mark Scheinberg President, Goodwin College www.Goodwin.edu