Education 4.12 - Flipbook - Page 16
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| Sunday, April 12, 2026
The Maryland Comptroller’s Office partnered with the University of Maryland’s school of business to analyze how federal cuts to major agencies would impact the state’s economy.
Colleges Partner with Industry Leaders
to Help Strengthen the Workforce
Collaboration ensures regional employers can thrive
in a changing landscape
By Megan Weeden, Contributing Writer
A
dvanced technology, automation, shifting demographics
and national policy changes are reshaping industries
across Maryland. For the state’s colleges and universities, remaining relevant in this environment means more
than offering strong academic programs – it requires close collaboration with the employers who hire their
graduates.
From community colleges developing industry-informed programs to university researchers modeling the economic impact of federal policy deci-
sions, these partnerships are helping
to shape an adaptable, future-ready
workforce.
Maryland’s manufacturing sector is
a critical part of the state’s economy,
encompassing about 4,000 businesses
and contributing more than $22 billion
annually. From computer and electronic products to food and chemical manufacturing, the industry employs more
than 100,000 workers statewide and
offers above-average wages. As manufacturing becomes more advanced
and automated, however, employers
increasingly require workers with high-
er-level technical skills.
Harford Community College (HCC)
and its workforce and career training
department help address those needs.
Currently, the college offers a manufacturing and production degree that
teaches students foundational machine
skills as well as those required to work
in modern production environments, as
well as a basic machine manufacturing
technology certificate designed to prepare students for entry-level machinist
positions.
As demand grows for workers skilled
in electronics, electro-mechanical sys-
tems and industrial maintenance, HCC
is expanding beyond these foundational offerings.
Last summer, the workforce and
career training department convened
approximately 25 representatives
from business, government, industry
and the community to participate in
a modified DACUM – Developing a
Curriculum – process.
Drawing on decades of experience,
these industry leaders helped the college identify and validate the competencies, equipment and learning outcomes required in today’s advanced
manufacturing environments. Their
insights reflected the transformation
of modern facilities, where automation,
robotics and data-driven production
systems are now commonplace.
In response to this feedback, HCC
is developing a new advanced manufacturing program that will be offered
as a full-time degree beginning in the
2027-28 academic year. The curriculum is being shaped directly by industry partners who are outlining the skills
students will need to secure employment in today’s manufacturing sector.
The program is designed to prepare
students for work in modern facilities
that rely on programmable logic controllers, robotics, conveyor systems
and the troubleshooting of automated
manufacturing equipment.
The new degree builds on the college’s existing manufacturing pathways while responding to the growing
need for technicians who can install,
diagnose, maintain, modify, test and
calibrate complex electronic, electrical
and mechanical systems used in production environments.
“Industry experts help us understand not only the skills needed right
now, but the skills that will matter in
the next generation of manufacturing,”
says Stuart Savin, Ed.D., associate
vice president for workforce and continuing education. “Their input allows
us to build programs that keep pace
with change.”
While many institutions have program-specific advisory boards, Carroll
Community College (CCC) has introduced something more expansive: the
President’s Advisory Board, a strategic
Colleges Partner with Industry Leaders,
continued on page 20
