Building Our Photonics Workforce
We aim to strengthen educational programs that consider the entire ecosystem in which students live and work, build links between education and employment, and provide services that meet the complex needs of today’s learners and professionals.
We work with regional partners to evaluate and bolster existing programs and develop new ones targeted to photonics certificates, credentials, and associate’s degree opportunities. With our partners, APT collaborates to engage the K-16 ecosystem in photonics opportunities, ensuring new talent can access training needed to participate in photonics careers.
The region’s diversity of industry and talent is a strength, giving us and our partners the opportunity to address lack of access to education and tap into a latent workforce that meets industry’s existing and future needs.
We are committed to providing accessible opportunities in our growing photonics innovation ecosystem for all, including groups that have been unable to participate in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce.
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A model for industry/college partnerships is the one between ThorLabs and Sussex County Community College (SCCC), in which ThorLabs provides students with space and instructors and fast-tracks students for industry jobs.
Another model program is New Jersey Manufacturers Extension Program (NJMEP)’s registered apprenticeship program, which serves non-college-educated populations and provides short, 6- to 12-week certification programs designed and taught by industry representatives. These programs are free of charge, and each seat in the program is directly tied to individual employers guaranteeing successful graduates an entry-level position upon completion.
Another program, NJMEP’s Pro-Action Education Network/Apprenticeship Program (PEN), is a statewide, scalable platform to prepare students and workers to fill open positions, refresh the skills of incumbent workers, and work across geographical and institutional boundaries.
Our nation requires a skilled workforce to pioneer our future as the world’s leader in photonics research and economic development. Jobs in photonics are Good Jobs, enabling opportunities for economic prosperity.
APT is improving the talent pipeline of skilled photonics technicians, engineers, and future industry leaders will secure the region’s continued economic viability and provide pathways to high-paying stable careers.
We are building high-impact, inclusive, long-term workforce development programs by bringing together our region’s educational institutions, industry partners, public agencies and non-profit consortia in efforts that create opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds.
We will build on our region’s educational entities to meet the employment demands of the photonics industry, including for technician-level openings.
Our industry partners Edmund Optics and Metrohm Spectro will explore possibilities for equipment and facility access for hands-on instruction and laboratory training as part of a formal program.
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Sussex County Community College (associate’s degree program in precision optics)
Stevens Institute of Technology (ABET-accredited B.S. in engineering, with a concentration in optical engineering)
Rowan University (B.S. in physics, with a concentration in photonics, and an undergraduate certificate in photonics)
Delaware Technical Community College (laser and optics diploma program, as an add-on to other degree programs)
Delaware State University (graduate programs in optics)
Lehigh University (graduate program in photonics)
internship and job training programs at photonics/optics companies