Talent Realigning Education

87,000 students attend one of the dozen four-year colleges & universities in the region.

Wisconsin has always viewed education as a top priority, and its residents have insisted that it be rooted in real-world practicality. As a result, state and local communities have fostered strong links between private-sector businesses and educational institutions.

● The region’s technical colleges –Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC), Gateway Technical College and Moraine Park Technical College – actively partner with employers and four-year universities to create the career pathways necessary for the next-generation economy did you know that?

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● Area schools continue to pioneer programs focused on the future, including UWMilwaukee’s Connected Systems Institute, UW-Whitewater’s Institute for Water Business, and the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s new academic center focused on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing and robotics

● Collaborative efforts bring schools together to solve educational challenges. Marquette University and the Medical College of Wisconsin offer a joint program in biomedical engineering.

Building an Inclusive Talent Pipeline

The quality of the region’s K-12 school system greatly impacts the flow and quality of talent in the metro Milwaukee economy. MMAC is committed to ensuring that all children receive a strong educational foundation and have the opportunities to learn about and access the many job opportunities the region provides.

It has helped to increase high-quality options for students and promotes initiatives that are committed to realizing the full potential of the region’s workforce, including:

● The Higher Education Regional Alliance (HERA) is a collaboration of 18 southeastern Wisconsin public and private two- and four-year colleges and universities, and a network of partner organizations dedicated to closing achievement gaps

● All-In Milwaukee is a coordinated collaboration of students, families, pathway partners, universities, advisors, and donor partners committed to providing comprehensive support, including maximized financial aid, customized advising, and career readiness to ensure limited-income students complete college and matriculate into the Milwaukee workforce

Technical Colleges

The state’s occupational education system continues to be a national leader in providing students with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. Established in the early 1900s, Wisconsin’s technical college system was the first of its kind in the nation and was used as a model by other states. Today, the system serves students at 16 colleges throughout the state. Students earn associate degrees, technical diplomas and certificates in a variety of fields, including information technology, health care, business, public safety and the skilled trades. Strong ties to employers, education partners, economic development experts and community-based organizations ensure skills that are needed. More than 90 percent of students who complete the state’s technical college programs are employed within six months of their graduation.

New initiatives are expanding access to the education needed for family-sustaining career opportunities. The M3 (M-Cubed) initiative, a partnership between Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and UW-Milwaukee, provides a supportive, educational bridge from K-12th grades to a college degree. The Dual-Enrollment Academies offered at technical colleges enable students to earn college credits while they are still attending high school.

Gateway Technical College: Offers more than 70 diploma, certificate and associate degree programs. Campuses are located in the Racine, Kenosha, Elkhorn, Burlington, Pleasant Prairie and Sturtevant areas. Enrollment: 18,213. gtc.edu

Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC): Offering 170+ associate degree, technical diploma and certificate programs. Partners with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities for affordable paths to bachelor’s degrees and apprenticeships. Campuses are located in Downtown Milwaukee, Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis. Online options. Enrollment: 21,163. matc.edu

Moraine Park Technical College: Offers more than 60 associate degrees and diploma programs in the West Bend area. The college also offers a variety of online and blended education options. Enrollment: 4,061. morainepark.edu

WCTC offers innovative choices to keep your team on the cutting edge, with thousands of training courses in more than 150 areas of study.

Learn on the latest technology in our state-of-the-art training labs.

Invest in hands-on training taught by experts with decades of industry experience.

Gain real-world skills you can put to work immediately. Partner

Applied Technology Center (ATC)

Transfers technology from the laboratory to the marketplace to solve problems confronting businesses, strengthen economic development, protect the environment and benefit human life. Milwaukee School of Engineering. 414/277-7416. msoe.edu/atc

Clinical and Translational Science Institute

A regional biomedical collaboration of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee School of Engineering and others that fosters reduced barriers between disciplines and institutions to solve medical engineering problems. ctsi.mcw.edu

Construction Science and Engineering Center

Dedicated to testing products for structural integrity and failure points, helping to determine marketability and safety. The lab has multiple computerized data acquisition capabilities and transducers for measuring force, displacement and strain. Milwaukee School of Engineering. 414/277-7301. msoe.edu

Talent: Applied Technology Development

The Midwest Energy Research Consortium (M-WERC) meets our members’ talent needs and supports the research program through the Training and Development HUB, an advanced energy-testing lab to prepare the next generation of electrical assembly workers and testers. The facility at M-WERC’s Energy Innovation Center is a partnership with M-WERC member companies and universities that offer advanced manufacturing training programs. m-werc.org