New York Institute of Technology Joins Ignite Board of Directors

Building Bridges: Making the Connection Between the Classroom and Manufacturing Industry

(Long Island, NY, June 22, 2021) – IgniteLI is bridging the gap between the classroom and industry by welcoming New York Institute of Technology to its board of directors. By including higher education stakeholders in Long Island’s manufacturing community, increased dialogue and collaboration can help to produce qualified candidates to fill critical vacancies in the local manufacturing sector.

Across all industries, the ability to attract and retain qualified workers is a common challenge. A 2019 Workforce Development Institute report states that 8,000 “help wanted” postings from manufacturers on Long Island went unfilled in 2018-2019. This new IgniteLI-New York Tech collaboration seeks to attack the labor challenge in two ways: by creating a pipeline for student internships and recent graduates to quickly find meaningful work and by offering industrial sector feedback to educators on workforce demands, technical requirements, and future skillsets that workers will need.

IgniteLI’s goals are strongly linked to New York Tech’s mission to provide access to a career-focused professional education. The targeted outcomes include building a tech-savvy talent pipeline, providing skill upgrades to existing workers, promoting manufacturing career ladders, and connecting students to internships and jobs.

“These collaborations create strong partnerships with local industry which lead to more relevant curriculum, stronger job placement, and a better business climate for Long Islanders,” said Patrick Boyle, executive director of IgniteLI.

“Our students learn by doing, making and innovating, and a hallmark of a New York Tech education is access to internships and job opportunities. Joining forces with organizations like IgniteLI helps us deliver on that promise,” said New York Tech President Henry C. “Hank” Foley, Ph.D.

By creating a pipeline of recent graduates to step into roles left vacant by retiring employees, and by spurring dialogue with industry on current and anticipated tech trends, Long Island manufacturers can continue operating, growing, and innovating products here, remaining global leaders, Boyle added.

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