The College-Company Connection: Bringing Real-World Work Experience to Students through Strategic Partnerships

Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell PA

Investigators

Abstract

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC), in partnership with Rohm and Haas company, is creating an in-house laboratory service facility to provide MCCC's biotechnology students with real-world training opportunities. The laboratory functions as a contract research organization to test new proteins developed by Rohm and Haas for use in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The project is incorporating work-based experiences into existing science courses, exposing students to state-of-the-art instrumentation, and enhancing STEM content in technician education courses. Besides establishing a working biotechnology training facility, the project is enhancing MCCC's biotechnology curriculum, providing summer internship opportunities for regional high school or community college teachers, providing students with additional training opportunities at company facilities, developing a laboratory practical exam for assessing student learning and skills, and pilot testing a strategic partnership model between a community college and a biotechnology company.