Foothill Ranch, Calif. – March 28nd , 2012 – Bal Seal Engineering, Inc. of Foothill Ranch, a producer of seals and springs for medical, automotive and energy equipment, recently participated in a project led by Orange County educators to help local high school students prepare for successful careers in engineering and manufacturing.
The Industry Advisory Project, headed by the Orange County Department of Education’s Career Technical Education Partnership, aims to create “pathways” for students by gathering detailed, practical input from key businesses in the county. Partnership representative and OCDE Curriculum Specialist Jean Gaudreau conducted a comprehensive survey with Bal Seal Engineering in late February, asking departments throughout the company to provide her with feedback on a wide range of topics, from skill level and software proficiency requirements to predicted job growth. She shared this feedback with OC high school teachers at an advisory meeting in early March.
“The videos and responses Bal Seal gave us were very valuable,” Gaudreau explained. “They helped us paint an accurate picture of the technical, engineering and manufacturing skills needed for the kinds of career opportunities similar companies offer, as well as the educational background required to obtain those skills.”
According to Gaudreau, teachers were excited about the presentation, and were eager to share the results with their students. The responses from Bal Seal and other local businesses may eventually result in a reshaping of future engineering and manufacturing curriculum, she said.
“The goal of the Industry Advisory Project is to make a real-world connection for students,” said Gaudreau. “As great as our teachers and materials are, they’re only made better by the addition of practical information like this, straight from the companies that are already out there doing the work within our community.”
More information about the Orange County Department of Education and The Central Orange County Career Tech Ed Partnership can be found at http://www.ocde.us/ctep/Pages/default.aspx. Details about Bal Seal Engineering, Inc., its products, services and available career opportunities can be found at www.balseal.com.
About Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.
Bal Seal Engineering, Inc. is a global provider of custom-engineered sealing, connecting, conducting and shielding solutions for industry worldwide. The company’s products employ unique Bal Seal Canted Coil Spring® technology for enhanced performance and reliability. For the latest news and information about Bal Seal, visit http://www.balseal.com/ or call 800.366.1006.
