Producing work-ready graduates

Tri-County Technical College officials joined representatives of local and area manufacturing companies for the recent International Automation Conference 2014. The Chicago, Illinois meeting last month attracted 200 attendees who face an identical challenge: finding and hiring people with 21st century workplace skills. Tech is proud of its growing collaboration with industry that has led to scholar programs, co-ops, internships and apprenticeships. Among those attending the meeting was Ted Stokes, engineering manager for Schneider Electric. Stokes is a believer in on-the-job training. Co-op students at Schneider’s Seneca operations maintain full-time academic schedules working 20 hours a week in the paid internship.