Unlock the Future with 2023 Education Grants for Cybersecurity and Software Development

Applications for Education Readiness Grants, which provide funding for selected schools to implement high school CTE programmes in high-demand career fields, specifically advanced manufacturing and information technology, have been made available by the Indiana Office of Career and Technical Education (OCTE), in collaboration with Conexus Indiana and TechPoint. 

Cybersecurity and Software Development

The funding intends to expand student access to possibilities in these professional categories while strengthening relationships between local businesses and educational institutions. The funding is open to educational institutions who want to launch or grow their advanced manufacturing and information technology programmes. Applications are being accepted through February 15th and may be found here.

The Education Readiness Grants are designed to support schools that are keen on implementing or expanding high school CTE programs in advanced manufacturing and information technology.

The grant recipients are expected to showcase a clear link with local employers in these fields, with the aim of recruiting more students to CTE and graduating job-ready students with the experience and credentials that local employers require. Schools that receive the grant must collaborate with a local employer to provide students with a work-based learning experience that aligns with the CTE pathways coursework.

Tony Harl, State Director of Career and Technical Education, said, "The Education Readiness Grants are a strategic initiative to bring local CTE programs in advanced manufacturing and information technology in line with the talent needs of the area employers. 

By providing schools with the resources they need to acquire and offer instructional equipment and technology that are in line with the latest industry standards, students can develop skills that will easily transition into high-wage, high-demand careers."

The award programme, which was first created in partnership with Conexus Indiana to aid beneficiaries in preparing students for professions in the quickly developing manufacturing industry, is in its second year. Since the programme has been expanded to include the information technology industry this year, TechPoint has signed on as a partner.

Funding for schools interested in establishing or growing CTE high school programmes in the disciplines of advanced manufacturing and information technology is available via the Education Readiness Grants programme. 

Industry 4.0 - Smart Manufacturing and Industrial Automation and Robotics are two programmes of study that fall under the category of advanced manufacturing that are eligible for the grant. Schools that offer CTE programmes in cybersecurity or software development in the field of information technology are also eligible.

 These four study programmes are a component of Indiana's new secondary CTE curriculum overhaul, called Next Level Programs of Study, which was introduced this academic year.

The Manufacturing Readiness Grants programme, which was introduced in the middle of 2020 and is run by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation in collaboration with Conexus Indiana, is meant to complement the Education Readiness Grants programme. 

A recent impact report indicates that 212 Manufacturing Readiness Grants worth more than $17.4 million have already been given out, with more grants reportedly on the way.

Through the integration of physical production with smart technologies like machine learning, additive manufacturing, and artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0 technologies are expected to receive a capital investment of $139 million thanks to these incentives. The state's investment in Manufacturing Readiness Grants has been doubled, according to Governor Holcomb's current budget plan.

Information technology CTE programmes are now included in this year's Education Readiness Grants as a result of recent recommendations from the Governor's Workforce Cabinet to address employer talent problems that placed a heavy emphasis on digital development. A pioneer in this field, TechPoint recently unveiled its Mission41,000 effort, which aims to increase Indiana's IT workforce by 41,000 by the year 2030.

Conexus Indiana and TechPoint advisory panels will evaluate grant applications and provide funding recommendations to the Office of Career and Technical Education for their consideration. The committees are made up of postsecondary, business, and government experts who cover a range of industries, technological specialties, and geographical diversity. Here is information about the award winners from the previous year.