News and Events

From the Executive Director

April 6, 2009   |  

Massachusetts Life Sciences Education Consortium

 

Lance Hartford 

Dear MassBioEd Partners: 

Massachusetts Life Science companies continue to report the sector’s greatest strength is the current workforce. However, employers also express concern with academia’s ability to continue to provide enough talent to match industry’s growth. Recent MCAS results and declining interest in STEM majors among prospective college students set alarming trends. Without significant intervention, Massachusetts faces the risk of not meeting corporate workforce needs due to a lack of student interest and knowledge.  

In an effort to bridge this gap in the Life Science workforce pipeline, MassBioEd in conjunction with the MBC has created the Massachusetts Life Sciences Education Consortium (MLSEC). The MLSEC will provide a permanent vehicle by which the Life Science industry, educators, and trainers will address curriculum development, retraining program design, co-ops and internships, and other areas of concern.  The consortium will advocate and assist in the development of the premier life sciences workforce through a mutual commitment between the life sciences industry and higher education. 

MLSEC Purposes:

  • Actively engage industry and academic leaders in ongoing dialogue, responsive planning, and systemic feedback to meet Massachusetts’ life sciences current and long-term workforce needs
  • Advocate for the integration and alignment of academic curricula
  • Advocate and facilitate integration of experiential learning through internships and co-ops
  • Coordinate and systematize industry input for higher education curriculum design
  • Anticipate and develop strategies to meet incumbent worker training needs
  • Ensure Massachusetts workers are prepared to assume emerging life sciences industry positions
  • Facilitate and coordinate communication between stakeholders 

Potential Outcomes of the MLSEC:

  • Create specific career development pathways and support strategies
  • Develop an education strategy that stakeholders understand and support
  • Develop stakeholder-supported curricula for vocational certificates and community college, Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
  • Provide incumbent worker training resources
  • Maximize experiential learning through corporate internships and co-ops  

With the guidance of MassBioEd’s Manager of Outreach Programs Suzanne Grillo, and BioTeach Director Robert Ross several Massachusetts community colleges have compiled a set of biotechnology competencies. The MLSEC will review these competencies, test them against position requirements and make recommendations to align curriculum with workforce needs. We anticipate the final product will enhance community colleges ability to bring graduates directly into the workforce. 

As we move forward, we ask for your support in building the MLSEC into a strong, effective, and well-respected collaboration among industry and academia. If you are interested in participating, please contact Suzanne Grillo at Suzanne.Grillo@massbio.org.  

Thank you for your continued support of the MassBioEd Foundation. 

Sincerely,

 

Lance Hartford, MassBioEd Executive Director

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