In the fourth year of operation, Project Purpose connects what is happening in the classroom to what industries need in their future workforce. Project Purpose is a joint effort of the Colquitt County School District, the Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce, the Moultrie-Colquitt County Development Authority, and several community partners. The program is a multi-tiered approach to connecting students and teachers with business and industry. One of the many activities facilitated through Project Purpose is Teacher Immersion Tours.
Every year, groups of teachers, counselors, and administrators complete a series of industry tours to hear firsthand how the standards they are teaching in class connect to that specific industry. The focus is on core subjects like math, sciences, and English/language arts. The groups participate in three different tour dates over three school semesters. The first is a local tour of industries in Colquitt County. The second is a regional tour focused on different counties connected to Colquitt, where a future employee may commute, and the third is a state tour focused on high-demand industries as identified by the Georgia Workforce Development Board.
Recently, a group of teachers and school support staff set out on their third and final tour for their cohort. The group focused on three industry areas: Cybersecurity, Entrepreneurship Development, and Auto Manufacturing. Felicia Howard, a C.A. Gray Junior High School counselor, shared, “I learned so much from this experience, and I can share valuable career planning information with students and parents. These tours truly make a difference in how we work with students and connect them to their future.”
The first stop of the two-day tour was TSYS, one of the largest financial transaction processors in the world. They are the behind-the-scenes processor of financial card swipes and online purchases. Their Columbus facility does everything from producing credit/debit cards for companies like Truist Bank, Bank of America, Synovus, Target, Gap/Old Navy, and more to identifying and stopping security threats targeting the users of those systems. A key takeaway for the group was that the TSYS Cybersecurity Department is looking for employees with a skill set that involves critical thinking along with good written and oral communication. They work with hundreds of online security threats daily and must triage the threat level to work on the most critical ones first. They have to work in teams and communicate the results of their work to stop the threat.
In addition to touring the TSYS, the group also visited a training program for cybersecurity at Columbus State University (CSU). CSU's TSYS Center for Cybersecurity offers a one-year NEXUS Practitioner's Certificate in Cybersecurity. Graduates of the program, run by cybersecurity experts, earn five internationally recognized cybersecurity certificates and can add on additional courses to complete a bachelor's and master's degree in cybersecurity.
Before leaving the Columbus area, the group spent some time with StartUP Columbus, an entrepreneurship development incubator created by a community needs assessment and capital campaign to address a gap in services and support for individuals seeking to become entrepreneurs. It has developed into a full-time non-profit funded by public and private donors. StartUP Columbus offers an incubator space where entrepreneurs can develop their ideas and business plans, operate their businesses on a small scale, and build capacity. The group was led through an activity that could be incorporated into the classroom on evaluating a business idea from idea creation to implementation.
The final leg of the two-day tour was a visit to KIA Georgia. KIA Georgia is the only United States facility producing KIA automobiles. According to their website, the plant covers 2,200 acres of land with a total investment of $2.8 billion. They are about to celebrate their 15th year of production in Georgia, producing four models in various colors and packages. KIA provided the group with a tour of their manufacturing facility and production lines and an in-depth discussion on how they partner with local school districts to engage students in STEM activities and work-based learning.
The group also saw firsthand how manufacturing has evolved into one of the safest and most financially secure career options. KIA Georgia has invested millions in automation while not losing any employees. Employees are up-skilled as automation takes over the more manual and physically challenging production parts. The production lines are ergonomically designed to reduce physical wear and tear on employees, and teams are cross-trained to move from station to station along the line to stay alert and focused. KIA also offers support services to employees, such as an onsite health clinic, full-service food court, and tuition assistance.
To find out more about Project Purpose or to become involved, visit projectpurposega.com