In the summer of 2020, Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech), through the Technical College System of Georgia, integrated hands-on training simulations from Transfr into their manufacturing programs. Students developed confidence and proficiency in the skills they’ll need to obtain jobs in the manufacturing industry.
Better results with Transfr: Key learnings from Savannah Technical College
Savannah Tech’s Fast Track Manufacturing (FTM) program targets students ages 18-21 without defined post-high school plans. Unfortunately, under the old model which relied upon traditional learning methods, many graduates were not continuing onto higher education or pursuing a career in manufacturing!
In summer 2021, Savannah Tech and Transfr met with the Savannah Industrial Coalition to redesign the FTM program and curriculum aligning with industry needs and to include Transfr’s hands-on training simulations.
Here are some quick stats from the new FTM program:
- The first cohort consisted of 7 students, four of whom went on to higher education at Savannah Tech
- One student was hired as a forklift operator making $20 an hour
- Two were hired by the largest chemical manufacturer in Savannah
- Savannah Tech is seeing increased interest in the program from youth, and has expanded to serve the military and incarcerated communities to boost enrollments
- The new program has seen success with companies hiring graduates for positions in maintenance, warehousing, and logistics
Savannah Tech Expands Virtual Reality Learning
Early successes led Savannah Tech to partner with Transfr on two additional programs: Strengthening Community Colleges and Pathways Home.
Strengthening Community Colleges Grant
The SCC program aims to increase the capacity and responsiveness of community colleges, focusing on accelerated learning strategies that support rapid re-skilling and employment (or re-employment) across targeted industry sectors and career pathway approaches. These strategies will also address identified equity gaps to increase full access to educational and economic opportunity. This has been expanded to serve 11 colleges across the state.
Pathways Home Grant
Pathways Home is a program serving adult incarcerated persons via community-based reentry programs before release from Coastal State Prison and Effingham County Prison. These projects include transitional services ranging from work-readiness, counseling, and securing support services pre-release to a continuum of training in in-demand industries leading to industry-recognized credentials and employment post-release.
