Miami Dade College launches new apprenticeship program

Miami Dade College launches new apprenticeship program
Miami Dade College launches new apprenticeship program
Pictured are (l-r, standing) MDC Board of Trustees member Jose K. Fuentes, Bernie Navarro and Rolando Montoya; (sitting) Laura Ginsburg, MDC president Dr. Eduardo J. Padron, David Sandri and Ted Norman.

Miami Dade College (MDC) made history recently with the launch of its new MDC WORKS: Apprenticeship Program, the first of its kind at an academic institution in Florida.

The program is a joint effort with the U.S. Department of Labor, Florida Department of Education and major industry partners, who participated in the official press conference signing ceremony at MDC Wolfson Campus in the heart of Downtown Miami.

MDC’s groundbreaking learn-and-earn apprenticeship model is a component of the college’s MDC WORKS, a next generation career center focused on career and technical education, facilitating internships, apprenticeships and professional development. MDC will establish an apprenticeship hub in South Florida serving individuals seeking a pathway to education and high-paying jobs, while accelerating industry growth in various key areas, including aviation, technology, banking, trade, and logistics, among others.

“Today we are taking the first steps to create an apprenticeship hub in South Florida,” said Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, MDC president. “The future of workforce depends on our ability to identify talent, job opportunities and design career pathways and innovative curricula.”

The definition of apprenticeships is evolving as a result of new industries, new communities, and new needs impacting industry. Through this model, MDC once again becomes a national leader in addressing industry demands and developing a new generation of skilled workers.

“Apprenticeship is important to us to counter the shortage in aviation technicians,” said David Sandri, principal at Commercial Jet, which restores and repurposes commercial jets for private, corporate and cargo uses, and is the first company to partner with MDC’s apprenticeship program.

Other special guests included State Rep. Robert Asencio; Gary Goldfarb, CSO at Interport Logistics; Laura Ginsburg, division chief of the Office of Apprenticeship, U.S. Department of Labor, and Ted Norman, director of Apprenticeship Programs, Florida Department of Education.

“MDC is an incredible institution and an incredible resource,” Norman said. “For anyone in the community who wants a job, this is the place to begin.”

For more information about the Apprenticeship Program, contact Marimar Molinary at 305-237-3675 or by email at mmolinar@mdc.edu.


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