Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation Inc

MASSBIOED'S MISSION IS TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE LIFE SCIENCES WORKFORCE IN THE REGION THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT ENGAGE AND EXCITE TEACHERS, INSPIRE, AND PROPEL STUDENTS, AND ILLUMINATE THE PATHWAY FROM THE CLASSROOM TO CAREERS WITH A FOCUS ON EXPANSION, OPPORTUNITY AND DIVERSITY.

THE BIOTEACH PROGRAM FOCUSES ON STRENGTHENING THE ABILITY OF TEACHERS TO DELIVER LAB-CENTERED, INQUIRY-BASED LESSONS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. THE PROGRAM INTRODUCES TEACHERS TO BASIC CONCEPTS IN BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY WITH SPECIFIC LABORATORY-BASED CURRICULA DESIGNED FOR TEACHING CONCEPTS. THE PROGRAM OFFERS FREE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR EDUCATORS; TRAINING, CURRICULA, AND ON AND OFF-SITE MENTORING TO NEWLY TRAINED TEACHERS; ASSISTANCE TO TEACHERS WITH CONTENT ACQUISITION, PREPARATION AND EXECUTION OF CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES. THE PROGRAM ALSO OFFERS GRANTS FOR LAB EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS. STUDENTS ARE INTRODUCED TO CAREERS THROUGH COLLEGE AND CAREER ENGAGEMENT EXPERIENCES WITH COLLEGES AND COMPANIES AND THROUGH OUR BANK OF VOLUNTEER CAREER AMBASSADORS WHO VISIT SCHOOLS AND MEET WITH STUDENTS REMOTELY AND ON-SITE WHEN POSSIBLE.OUR BIOTEACH PROGRAM HELD 12 TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS, WITH TOTAL ATTENDANCE OF 154 TEACHERS ACROSS ALL WORKSHOPS. ACROSS ALL BIOTEACH PROGRAMMING, WE ENGAGED NEARLY 10,000 STUDENTS IN AUTHENTIC SCIENCE LEARNING. TO ACCOMMODATE THE NEEDS OF TEACHERS AND MAINTAIN THE FLEXIBILITY OF REMOTE PROGRAMMING, WE CONTINUED OFFERING VIRTUAL RESOURCES AND HELD HALF OF OUR WORKSHOPS REMOTELY. THE TEACHER TRAININGS WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH OVER 90% OF PARTICIPANTS REPORTING AN INCREASE IN CONFIDENCE IN EXECUTING LAB ACTIVITIES IN THEIR CLASSROOM OR REPORTING THAT THEY EXPECT TO UTILIZE THE RESOURCES IN THEIR CLASSROOM. WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO BRING OUR INTENSIVE ACCESS PROGRAM OF AUTHENTIC SCIENCE CONTENT AND CAREER AWARENESS TO OVER 4,000 STUDENTS IN LOW-INCOME AND HIGH-NEED SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

BIOTALENT INCLUDED SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON UNDERSTANDING, BUILDING, AND SUPPORTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER AWARENESS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED:A. JOB TRENDS INITIATIVES PROVIDE JOB TREND ANALYSIS, AND A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE INDUSTRY'S WORKFORCE NEEDS IN TERMS OF SKILLS TO EDUCATORS AND THOSE IN INDUSTRY. IN 2020, MASSBIOED PUBLISHED ONE JOB TRENDS REPORT, THE 2019 MASSACHUSETTS LIFE SCIENCES EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK, AND CONVENED THE LIFE SCIENCES WORKFORCE 2020 CONFERENCE IN MAY, WHICH ATTRACTED OVER 270 PARTICIPANTS. B. CAREER ENGAGEMENT BUILDS A CRITICAL BRIDGE BETWEEN CLASSROOM AND CAREERS. CAREER AMBASSADORS HELP TEACHERS BROADEN THEIR STUDENTS' HORIZONS AND ENCOURAGE AN INTEREST IN THE LIFE SCIENCES. SEVERAL MODES OF INTERACTION ARE OFFERED, FROM FORMAL CAREER PANELS TO SMALL GROUP Q&A SESSIONS. OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES MATCHES STUDENTS WITH PROFESSIONALS FOR VIRTUAL INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS. IN THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR, WE HELD A CAREER FAIR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MASSBIO BRINGING TOGETHER 392 JOB SEEKERS AND 40 EMPLOYER COMPANIES.C. APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMTO GROW AND DIVERSIFY THE WORKFORCE, BIOTALENT LAUNCHED LIFE SCIENCES APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT OFFERS STREAMLINED PATHWAYS INTO THE INDUSTRY. THE PROGRAM COMBINES TECHNICAL TRAINING, ON-SITE WORK EXPERIENCE, AND INCOME SUPPORT. WORKING WITH LEADING LIFE SCIENCE EMPLOYERS, MASSBIOED HAS DESIGNED TWO APPRENTICESHIPS - ONE FOR BIOMANUFACTURING TECHNICIANS AND ONE FOR CLINICAL TRIAL ASSOCIATES. BOTH PROGRAMS ENABLE INDIVIDUALS TO OBTAIN FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED SKILLS, AND QUICKLY TRANSITION INTO EMPLOYMENT THAT PROVIDES MEANINGFUL WORK, FAMILY-SUSTAINING WAGES, AND CAREER GROWTH. IN 2021, THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM HAD ITS FIRST CYCLES OF APPRENTICE TRAINING WITH A TOTAL OF 30 APPRENTICES, 65% OF WHOM WERE FEMALES AND 60% WERE POC.

OUR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING COURSES PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND SOFT SKILLS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE INDUSTRY. THE COURSES ARE DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND INCLUDE BIOTECH 101, BIOTECHNOLOGY PROJECT MANAGEMENT, AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AMONG OTHERS. IN 2021 CORPORATE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING INTRODUCED 5 NEW TECHNICAL AND SOFT SKILLS TRAINING COURSES WITH A RECORD 567 ENROLLMENTS ACROSS ALL TRAININGS.

CORPORATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) PROGRAM PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCUMBENT WORKERS AND THOSE INTERESTED IN CAREERS IN THE INDUSTRY.