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Ford Motor Company Fund and the United Auto Workers announce a
$350,000 grant to pilot an innovative educational program in
partnership with Ford’s Louisville Assembly Plant
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Teams of teachers will experience auto manufacturing on the plant
floor and use what they learned to help students develop real-life
projects and essential workplace skills
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Ford also will launch a “Powered by Ford” pilot program at two
Jeffersontown High School academies to teach manufacturing and
engineering
Company Website:
http://corporate.ford.com/
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- (Business Wire)
Ford Motor Company Fund and UAW Ford today announced a grant of $350,000
to pilot an innovative new education program that will bring teams of
teachers into the Louisville Assembly Plant to experience first-hand the
work situations their students will face.
The program, called the “Ford NGL Collaborative Learning Externship
(CLE),” is aimed at building real-world partnerships between teachers,
students and manufacturing in Louisville, a Ford Next Generation
Learning (NGL) community.
Ford NGL, which is part of the Ford Fund, helps prepare students for
college and career by bridging the gap between classroom learning and
the lessons of actual workplace experience. The grant is part of $1
million in new scholarships, grants and career outreach programs that
the Ford Fund, Ford’s philanthropic arm, is launching globally this
month to further its commitment to education.
“The CLE will help engage students in their field of interest by
teaching lessons and skills in the real-world context of a career,” said
Bill Dirksen, Ford vice president, Labor Affairs. “It will make the
future workforce stronger because teachers will better understand the
needs of business, and students will benefit by developing the skills
and workplace knowledge necessary to get the good jobs.”
The grant announced today by Ford and UAW at the NGL Conference, will
fund professional development over two years and also broaden the
concept to include other types of business.
“The UAW has a long history of supporting the communities in which we
work and live and we believe education is the foundation on which dreams
are brought to life,” said Jimmy Settles, Jr., vice president and
director, UAW National Ford Department. “The Ford NGL Coordinated
Learning Externship provides a great opportunity to help teachers better
understand the skills students need to be successful in the future and
it helps business understand how they can support educators in this
important work.”
Teams of teachers from two Jeffersontown High School career academies
helped pilot the program this summer by spending two days inside Ford’s
Louisville Assembly Plant. The 30 teachers were able to observe the many
steps involved in building automobiles – from the timing and teamwork on
the assembly line to the problem solving when issues arise. The teachers
took what they learned back to the classroom to strengthen a student
project to build life-sized cardboard boats. Nearly 2,000 students will
benefit from the first phase of the CLE program, but that number is
expected to grow as more communities implement the plan.
Today, Ford also announces sponsorship of the Design and Build academies
through the launch of a “Powered by Ford” pilot program at Jeffersontown
High School. As part of the program, which focuses on science,
technology, engineering and math (STEM), Ford Motor Company will provide
the academies with scholarships for students, equipment, mentors for
student projects and professional development for teachers among other
needed support.
“The development of career academies provides our students with the
applied learning and authentic experiences needed to meet the demands of
the global marketplace,” said Dr. Donna Hargens, superintendent,
Jefferson County Public Schools. “Ford’s generous support of these STEM
academies at Jeffersontown High School will enhance instruction and
better prepare our students for successful careers.”
Ford Fund is planning to expand the “Powered by Ford” program to include
additional plant communities in the future.
As a Ford NGL community, Louisville is part of a national network of
participating school districts that receive guidance and technical
assistance from the Ford NGL team, and share resources and best
practices with other Ford NGL communities. The goal is to boost student
performance, improve student readiness for college and/or a high-skill
career, and ultimately attract more high-paying jobs to the community.
About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community
partners to advance driving safety, education and community life. Ford
Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 60 years with ongoing
funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford Driving Skills for Life teaches
new drivers through a variety of hands-on and interactive methods.
Innovation in education is encouraged through programs that enhance high
school learning and provide college scholarships and university grants.
Through Ford Volunteer Corps, more than 25,000 Ford employees and
retirees each year work on projects that better their communities in 30
countries. For more information, visit http://community.ford.com.
For news releases, related materials and high-resolution photos and
video, visit www.media.ford.com.
Follow at www.facebook.com/ford,
www.twitter.com/ford
or www.youtube.com/fordvideo1
Contacts:
Ford Motor Company Fund
Todd Nissen, 313.322.4898
tnissen@ford.com
or
Direct
Impact – Ford
Judd Templin, 614.560.3399
templin@sppgrp.com
Source: Ford Motor Company
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