About

The Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE), a National Science Foundation Center of Excellence in high-technology manufacturing, is the go-to organization for manufacturing and advanced technical education, best practices and resources supporting the high performance skilled workforce for Florida's manufacturing sectors.

FLATE provides exemplary industry partnerships, workforce opportunity, and educational synergy throughout the state of Florida by connecting industry and workforce needs to targeted educational endeavors at ten community and state colleges across Florida. The Engineering Technology (ET) degree and certificate programs conceived, engineered, and coordinated by FLATE is the first of its kind to offer a cohesive, comprehensive, fully articulated inter-institutional program which focuses on a set of core courses covering introductory computer-aided drafting, electronics, instrumentation and testing, processes and materials, quality and safety. These core skills support the Florida workforce, and align with the national Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) Certified Production Technician certification, providing value added benefits to industry. The Engineering Technology Core coupled with a second year degree specialization prepares students for jobs in manufacturing and high-technology industries.

Model for industry endorsed 2-year curriculum for A.S./A.A.S. degrees in Engineering Technologies.

Model for integrating national skill standards into technician 2-year degree curriculum.

Provides an effective outreach and dissemination platform for Florida’s high school, community college, industry and legislature for information related to the requirements for and impact of manufacturing education.

Working partnerships with industry and educators enhancing statewide recognition, articulation, and endorsement of Engineering Technology Degree and Certificate programs.

Promotion of manufacturing careers throughout Florida through Made in Florida outreach initiatives which have reached over 47,000 middle and high school students.

Providing professional development opportunities for technical faculty and educators in STEM curriculum to develop, refine or certify their knowledge base within manufacturing and/or its related enabling technologies and educational pedagogies.

National advisory boards for Technical Education including ATE Center, NAM, MSSC, &   HAS 200 Consortium.Leader in implementation of a statewide unified education system which positions manufacturing education as a convergent curriculum optimizing technician preparation in manufacturing and its enabling technologies.