Externships Connecting Higher Ed to Industry in Washington State
The Associated General Contractors Education Foundation (AGCEF) is a nonprofit created by the construction industry to promote and develop careers in construction through education and training. It conducts workforce development through outreach programs targeting teachers in K-12 schools and postsecondary faculty and administrators from 4-year universities.
AGCEF offers externships for teachers and faculty during the summer providing them STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) clock hours approved by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Diane Kocer, AGC’s Executive Director, described for us their goal of getting teachers out of the classroom and into construction job sites for some practical exposure to what those careers are like. This allows teachers and faculty to better prepare students for the working world.
For example, adult externs may learn materials science and the scientific properties of concrete while fashioning their own hockey puck. On another day, they may do a blueprint reading that highlights construction measurements…and that’s real math, including geometry.
It’s not like visiting a health care provider workplace though. Externs must adapt to wearing closed toed shoes, even in summer, by donning hard hats, reflective vests and safety goggles. Externship groups may visit heavy highway construction, including tunnels and bridges. The program also includes commercial building construction.
One especially interesting and fun AGCEF program was held in the summer of 2018. Participants visited the SR 520 Lake Washington floating bridge. Checking out the columns and pontoons from under the bridge, all guided by the chief engineer, clearly provided some unique insights into engineering design principles.
AGCEF has partnered with the Construction Center of Excellence for multiple programs, including the annual King County Construction Career Days intended to introduce pathways to apprenticeships for students. Over 1,200 students and teachers participate each year. Diane explains that while the kids are learning about what it means to be a bricklayer, electrician or carpenter in the trades, the teachers get a separate presentation about how to help their students apply to postsecondary apprenticeship programs, not just colleges. Diane says she’d like to see a special “signing day” for new apprentices like the events high schools host for young athletes recruited by universities.
In terms of best practices for industry, Diane noted that summer externships work well for the construction industry because it’s their busy time of year with so many construction processes to be observed. Leaders in each industry looking to partner with a Center of Excellence on apprenticeships or externships should consider how their schedules might best harmonize with the academic calendar or school year. And she suggests always having “takeaways” at the ready, like lesson plans for externs to take home with them, with links to related resources and materials as well.
From a faculty perspective, professors should be looking for lesson plan materials that fit well into their particular college courses or curriculum. One example to explore is how current use of construction equipment with cutting edge wireless computer technology might translate into more relevant classroom instruction and discussion.
Ms. Kocer encourages faculty and administrators in higher education to ‘just pick up the phone’ and call the Construction Center of Excellence or the Center for whatever industry they’re interested in to ask about getting an employer facility tour and/or presentation to students about apprenticeships and employment opportunities. She says, “You’re not going to be turned down. We welcome showing off the exciting world of construction and the multiple rewarding careers available to students.”
HELPFUL RESOURCES
The Associated General Contractors Education Foundation (AGCEF)
