Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1047182
56 SMT007 MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2018 IPC is proud to announce the IPC Education Foundation. Our mission is to attract the best talent to our industry and prepare the emerg- ing workforce with the knowledge to bridge the skills gap. The Foundation is a separate organization from IPC and is set up as a non-profit 501c3. We've begun our fundraising efforts and are actively seeking IPC members to take a lead role. At least 50% of the funds raised will be earmarked for scholarships for students inter- ested in careers offered by the electronics manufacturing industry. Our goal is to award thousands of dollars in scholarships by 2019. The Foundation will also sponsor STEM programs closely related to our industry. We plan to develop curricula with accompanying badge and certification programs to engage high school and post-secondary students. Our goal is to introduce students to the innovative careers in our industry and prepare the talent pipeline with the skills to make them more marketable in the job market. During IPC APEX EXPO 2019, we are build- ing on the success of last year's STEM Outreach Program. We are excited to engage the emerg- ing workforce. Be on the lookout for more information as we get closer to the conference. One of our major initiatives is to start a network of IPC Student Chapters at universi- ties and community colleges. The Foundation is speaking with several universities to gain faculty support for the student chapters. As we move forward, we want to target univer- IPC Education Foundation: Bridging the Skills Gap One World, One Industry by John Mitchell, IPC—ASSOCIATION CONNECTING ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES