TRAIN OH is a learn-and-earn model that blends school and work into a 21st century hybrid activity, where companies and educators integrate activities in both space and time. Following successful completion of their first year, students take a full-time course load while participating in class 2 days per week and engaging in paid work-based learning at a sponsor company 3 days per week. Lorain County Community College’ s preexisting MicroElectrical Mechanical Systems (MEMS) program was used to pilot this model. The pilot launched in Fall 2016 at Lorain County Community College (LCCC), with support from Ohio TechNet, through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration, and NextFlex, the Flexible Hybrid Electronics Manufacturing USA Institute.
This support allowed the TRAIN OH model to demonstrate its effectiveness.
- 90% of the participants in Cohort 1 received a full-time position after graduation or are still enrolled in the program.
- 75% of the participants in Cohort 2 have been offered and/or started an internship within the TRAIN OH program.
- 52 industry/employer partners have been engaged.
- 43 work-based learning commitments have been made with 18 industry/employer partners.
This success has prompted Lorain County Community College to expand this model into other disciplines, and Lakeland Community College plans to replicate this learn-and-earn approach. Further, project success has led to LCCC’s approval to offer the Microelectronic Manufacturing Applied Bachelor’s Degree – which can offer students enrolled in the TRAIN OH for MEMS program an opportunity to further their education.
A full report that details the success of this model can be accessed using the link below!
