Youth Learning Academy, INC

Youth Learning Academy, Industry and Schools working together in partnership for a stronger workforce

What is it?

A Student to Industry partnership (SIP) is an initiative between YLA, Schools and Industry Leaders for the benefit of students in K-12, industry, higher education and the United States.

The aim of the partnership is to build a career path linking businesses, schools, and postsecondary using YLA activities and programs.  This exposure will serve as an introduction for increased knowledge and opportunities for careers, and to further their education in your industry.  It will also provide a way to engage students in a way that the traditional education process cannot.

“YLA programs have helped change the image of the auto, construction and motorsports industry in the eyes of the students.  It provides a way to relate to the students about career options and helped build enterprise skills such as problem-solving, team work, planning and communication skills.”

-Mary McNally, Mountain Concessions, Founder

A comprehensive toolbox is available to help you and your business get involved.

SIP is essentially about building partnerships to maximize opportunities for young people and to generate links for businesses to their future workforce and postsecondary to future alumni.  Our experience to date has been extremely positive with program partners reporting positive outcomes and being enthusiastic about getting started on their next assignments with the students. The primary goal of SIP includes getting businesses involved in school-based learning and students involved in work-based learning.  It seeks to build strong and on-going partnerships between businesses, higher learning, schools and YLA, which benefit all those involved.

Through the program, students gain real experience, learn about career opportunities and find out about the skills employers are looking for.  Local businesses gain experience in working with today’s young people and have a hand in shaping a skilled workforce.  SIP also focuses on meeting future skills needs by encouraging learning in new and emerging industry sectors and those with current or predicted skills shortages.  It helps participant to develop positive attitudes about local businesses and aims to dispel negative and outdated perceptions.

Partners also need to take into consideration the needs of young people at all levels of academic achievement, young people with disability and at-risk students.

The objectives of Student Industry Partnerships (SIP)

• Raise the awareness of employability skills and the needs of the future workforce.

• Develop positive attitudes towards industry, businesses and schools

• Build strong and ongoing relationships between businesses and schools.

• Provide students with practical career information and expose them to the workplace

• Connect businesses, students, teachers and families in career pathway planning.

• Engage students and businesses in school based learning and work based learning.

• Ensure mutual benefits for students, schools, industry and businesses

• Provide businesses with opportunities for teachers, and students to gain exposure and practical experience in your industry.

• Provide businesses and industry to learn about the education sector.

How?

SIP program includes an extensive range of activities which partners can choose from to suit their own needs.  The activities are held in – and after – school through YLA programs.

Activities include:

• Tours, visits and excursions

• Speakers and demonstrations

• Student mentoring, role modeling and interview training

• Teacher exchange program

• Career displays and mobile exhibits

• Part time work opportunities, work experience structured workplace learning, work and career shadowing and school based apprenticeship.

• Student research and hands-on projects

• Forums, councils, seminars, conferences, summer programs for students and their families, teachers and YLA staff and volunteers

• Careers education and counseling

• Supporting curriculum development, teacher and student material and resources, structured learning activities, competitions, games and work simulation exercise.

Why should your business get involved?

Your business will gain more experience in working with today’s young people and their families to find out about possible career pathways and the kind of skills their future employers are looking for.  This wills you an opportunity to meet the biggest influencers in young people live their families

What’s in it for Schools and Students……

Schools can:

• Place students into structured workplace learning that supports school theory and provides job

   experiences.

• Build and extend skills for a student’s future employment in architecture, automotive, construction, engineering or trades.

• Guide students into rewarding and challenging jobs

• Match teachers with industry peers

• Show businesses the relevance of education to their industry

• Work with industry sponsor to establish and monitor enterprise projects

• Raise awareness of industry work experience, providing a youth pathway into apprenticeship and beyond.

• Students will gain a better understanding of WHY Science, technology, math and engineering is important to your business and furthering their education

• Learn the relevance of 21st century skills is relevant

What’s in it for the Employer?

Employers can: 

• Give young people an opportunity to get started in their industry

• Bridge the gap from theoretical learning to actual application

• Provide practical exposure to “real work” from routine tasks right through to those with high jobs

• Provide on the job training and accommodate young people with disabilities, “at-risk” and low language

• Provide role models for future work ethics

• Provide leadership, mentoring and coaching for young people interested in their industry

• Use industry networks to establish and support scholarships provide site visits ,etc

• Match community needs and career pathways that enable young people to make a genuine career decision

• Attract young people into areas with skills shortages and back them up through multi skilling

Getting started

How can your business get started in SIP?

• Contact YLA staff and arrange a meeting to hear information on YLA and their programs

• Attend an informational session

• Attend training in culture sensitivity, programs, how to work with students, etc.

• Select an activity, school or program