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Front Page » Education » Industry links boost Miami Dade College rolls

Industry links boost Miami Dade College rolls

Written by on March 21, 2023
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Industry links boost Miami Dade College rolls

Miami Dade College enrollment has risen 3.8% compared to this time last year thanks to key programs in place.

New short-term certifications and opportunities instituted to ramp up to associate and bachelor’s degrees have carried through the momentum and have attracted students, said Dr. Malou C. Harrison, the college’s executive vice president and provost.

“We’ve really been able to attract students that see the alignment with the programs we offer and the industry demands,” she said, “which I think really has been a motivator for students and why we’re seeing these increases in our enrollment.”

In July 2022, Miami Dade College reported a 6.6% increase in enrollment credit hours for the fall 2022 term year-over-year in comparison to fall 2021. By September 2022, the college saw another 2% increase.

In the fall, MDC is set to launch a new short-term 18-credits college credit certificate in sports management operations, which is an endeavor to respond to industry needs, Dr. Harrison said.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in sports occupations is projected to grow by about 22% between now and the year 2030.

“We have gotten the approval from the State of Florida to launch this sport management operations program,” she said, “and it’s also anticipated that there will be about 160,000 job openings within now to 2030 for sports operations administration.”

Students taking the sports college credit certificate can continue their studies toward obtaining an associate in science degree and also even a baccalaureate degree in sports supervision and management.

The college is also launching a new bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity reported that AI-related careers with grow 23% from now until 2029 in areas like applied simulation.

Another short-term college credit certificate that will be offered during the fall term is medical coding and billing, which will require 37 credit hours to complete.

“This is a very lucrative area in the healthcare industry,” Dr. Harrison said. “In Miami-Dade County, projections show about 11% growth from now to 2030.”

MDC’s apprenticeship programming has also grown. Along with automotive technician certifications with Warren Henry and Tesla, students can now take programs for construction, dental assistant, nursing assistant, teaching assistant, financial specialists and building automation.

“These are learn-and-earn programs where students are earning a living wage while working with our partners,” Dr. Harrison added. “There’s classroom instruction, there’s hands-on practical experience, and these companies have pledged to hire at the end of the apprenticeship program. So, it’s really a win-win and we’re very proud to be the first registered apprenticeship institution in the state of Florida to offer apprenticeship programs.”

MDC is the people’s and community’s college, she said. “There should be no one in this community that believes that college is not for them.”

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