The 58th statewide Forum on Engineering Technology (ET) brought together Florida’s Engineering Technology educators, industry partners, and workforce leaders on September 10–11, 2026 at Palm Beach State College’s Boca Raton Campus. The Forum welcomed 70 participants, including 18 virtual attendees, representing 22 of Florida’s 23 colleges offering the A.S. Engineering Technology degree, along with a technical college and university representation.
Advancing Faculty
Learning and Industry Connections
The
Fall Forum welcomed new faculty and featured a wide range of professional
learning and statewide updates designed to help educators strengthen
Engineering Technology programs and prepare students for high-demand technical
careers.
Featured
sessions and discussions included:
- Statewide Engineering Technology program
updates and college highlights.
- Updates on the NSF-funded Strengthening
Workforce Ecosystems initiative, a partnership involving
FLATE/FloridaMakes, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Gulf Coast
State College, St. Petersburg College, and the University of Florida as
the lead institution.
- The BILT Process, presented by CORD, supporting
industry-informed curriculum development.
- Outreach opportunities, including the Student
Video Contest and events for Manufacturing Month.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) for educators,
highlighting emerging tools and opportunities for teaching and learning.
- Updates from the Florida Semiconductor
Institute (FSI) on initiatives supporting Florida’s next-generation STEM
and NASA aerospace skilled technical workforce.
A
new professional learning opportunity, Just-in-Time
Mentoring, was also highlighted. Working in partnership with
FLATE, FSI will connect university semiconductor experts with state college
instructors through a year-long professional learning community. Participants
will also can take part in a three-day immersive semiconductor fabrication
experience in a university cleanroom.
The
Forum also showcased best practices from the 2026 FLATE–FAITE Educator Award
winners, giving faculty an opportunity to learn from
colleagues who are making a difference in Engineering Technology education
across Florida.
Strengthening Statewide
Engineering Technology Pathways
The Florida
Department of Education (FDOE) and ET Forum leadership provided
important updates on statewide program developments, including new
specialization pathways and College Credit Certificates (CCCs) supporting
A.S. Engineering Technology programs.
Faculty
worked collaboratively in groups to review and update curriculum for existing
CCCs in:
- Automation
- Mechatronics
- Hydraulics, Pneumatics, and Motors for
Manufacturing
- Lean Manufacturing
These
collaborative curriculum discussions help ensure that Florida’s Engineering
Technology programs continue to respond to evolving industry needs and provide
students with relevant skills for today’s manufacturing workforce.
Connecting Education
and Industry
The Statewide Engineering Technology
Industry Advisory Board (SETIAB) met at the conclusion of the
first day to discuss the state of manufacturing in Florida, emerging industry
trends, and statewide Engineering Technology program developments.
The
continued engagement between faculty, industry, workforce partners, and state
leaders is essential to keeping Florida’s Engineering Technology education
aligned with the skills employers need—and ensuring students are prepared for
opportunities in advanced manufacturing and other technology-driven industries.
A Statewide Community
of Practice
For
decades, the ET Forum has served as a vital platform for connecting Florida’s
geographically diverse Engineering Technology community around shared
priorities and challenges. With support from the Florida Department of
Education, FLATE collaborates with the ET Forum network to strengthen statewide
collaboration, share initiatives and resources, provide professional
development, foster industry–academia partnerships, and support curriculum
framework review and reform.
What
began as a forum has evolved into a statewide community of practice where educators connect,
collaborate, and share ideas to strengthen Engineering Technology education and
Florida’s manufacturing talent pipeline.
Thank You to Our Hosts
and Sponsors
A
special thank you to Palm
Beach State College for hosting the Fall 2026 ET Forum and to
the educational vendors and sponsors for their continued support:
Mark Your Calendar:
Spring 2027 ET Forum
April
15–16, 2027
Valencia College,
Florida
The
ET Forum continues to serve as a model for statewide collaboration across
disciplines and career clusters. By bringing educators, industry, workforce
partners, and state leaders together, the Forum helps strengthen programs,
expand faculty learning, and prepare Florida students for the evolving
technology and manufacturing workforce.
For more information
about the ET Forum
or the A.S.
Engineering Technology degree, visit FLATE’s ET Forum resources.
