Gateway programs certified for essential employability qualities

Published on Jun 11, 2020

The Quality Assurance Commons for Higher and Post-Secondary Education (QA Commons) announced that Gateway Community & Technical College’s Advanced Manufacturing Technician (AMT) and Computer Information Technology (CIT) programs are Essential Employability Qualities (EEQs) Certified. Only 13 programs are EEQs Certified nationally.

Advanced Manufacturing Technician Program

Gateway’s AMT program is a two-year (five-semester) associate degree that combines cutting-edge curriculum, paid working experience along with learning highly sought-after business principles and best practices of world-class manufacturers. This program is in partnership with The Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (KY FAME) which is a partnership of regional manufacturers whose purpose is to implement career pathway, apprenticeship-style educational programs that will create a pipeline of highly skilled workers.

Gateway has designed the AMT program so that it combines coursework with field training. Students are exposed to various settings and real-world situations that will further strengthen their knowledge of the subject.

Computer Information Technology

Gateway’s CIT program provides students with hands-on experience to design, maintain, and use different computing technologies. Gateway CIT grads are employed in professional, scientific, and technical services industries, mainly in computer systems design and related services.

The program provides a unique structure for some classes that help to foster workplace communication and collaboration.

“I’m proud of the work of our faculty and staff that ensures that Gateway’s programs are among the best in the nation,” said Dr. Fernando Figueroa, Gateway President.

“While we started the process of certifying these programs before the COVID-19 pandemic, they have demonstrated the exact attributes needed for this challenging time,” said Ralph Wolff, president and founder of The QA Commons. “An investment in higher education must lead to greater employment opportunities.”

The QA Commons certifies programs through a comprehensive and integrated framework of EEQ criterion including graduate preparation; career services integration; employer engagement; student and alumni engagement; and public display of career information.