SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Feb. 25, 2016 – Career technical education is not only a viable pathway to success, but it is also vital to the strength of our workforce, global competitiveness and the economic health of our state and nation. That’s the message Universal Technical Institute, a leading provider of transportation technician training; Skills USA; and the Association for Career Technical Education of Arizona delivered to lawmakers as they hosted CTE Day at the Arizona state capitol on February 23rd.
“CTE is a vital component of our education system and a key pathway to successful careers for talented individuals who want an alternative to traditional two- or four-year college programs. Our graduates are living proof that CTE prepares job-ready students for well-paying, in-demand careers,”* said Mike Romano, Campus President of Universal Technical Institute’s Avondale campus.
“Stereotypes of skilled trades and restrictions on private technical education are pushing students and their families away from worthwhile training and careers. As a result, we have more people working in low-income jobs, fewer thriving middle-class families, a widening income gap and, increasingly, a shortage of skilled tradespeople needed to keep the economy moving forward,” he said.
The National Skills Coalition forecasts 52 percent of all job openings in Arizona between 2010 and 2020 will be in the middle-skills category, which requires more education than a high school diploma, but less than a bachelor’s degree. Yet, the market lacks enough qualified professional technical service workers to fill these vacancies. In transportation service, the industry will need to fill approximately 37,000 service technician jobs every year between 2014 and 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.*
Several legislators and policymakers rolled up their sleeves to participate in hands-on demonstrations during CTE Day, and learned how UTI and its partners, Association for Career Technical Education of Arizona and SkillsUSA, are working to reduce stigma about CTE and renew focus on a vital education option that develops the hands-on talents of thousands of students in the state.
The face of transportation service education has drastically changed from the stereotypes with which it is associated. Modern vehicles have more computing power than the system that first guided astronauts to the moon. As a result, today’s service technicians must be versed in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills needed to diagnose and repair the complex, innovative digital systems that power today’s vehicles.
At UTI, STEM is integrated into all programs and service bays are outfitted with the latest diagnostic tools, making them seem more like surgical suites than stereotypical garages. In fact, UTI works directly with manufacturers of more than 30 leading brands — from BMW and Ford to Freightliner and Volvo — to develop curriculum that addresses the evolving needs of the industry and meets the demand for highly skilled technicians.
“At a time when opportunity for employment is so critical, CTE programs are ensuring students are equipped with the necessary skills to successfully enter the workforce,” said Pam Ferguson, director of the Association for Career Technical Education of Arizona.
UTI has been reinvigorating discussion about CTE with education leaders and recently launched immersion sessions for high school students with opportunities to interview employers and graduates, see technology and even participate in a hands-on workshop that delivers a taste of a career in automotive service at UTI’s flagship 248,000-square-foot campus in Avondale.
“Our goal is to ensure that every student in Arizona has the opportunity to build a rewarding, long-term career that provides financial security and the means to take care of their families,” said Romano.
About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) is the leading provider of post-secondary education for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians. With more than 190,000 graduates in its 50-year history, UTI offers undergraduate degree and diploma programs at 12 campuses across the United States, as well as manufacturer-specific training programs at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, UTI provides specialized post-secondary education programs under the banner of several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). For more information, visit uti.edu.
*UTI cannot guarantee employment or salary. **Based on data compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, www.bls.gov, viewed Dec. 8, 2015. For information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important information, visit our website at www.uti.edu/disclosure.
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