Education

Connecting Education to Industry

K-12 Education

This group works to align K-12 educational systems with the evolving needs of the industrial workforce, ensuring students gain the awareness, skills and opportunities needed to pursue fulfilling careers in industry. By fostering stronger connections between schools, employers and community partners, the group helps prepare the next generation for the demands of a changing economy and highlights the many pathways to success available within the region.

Key initiatives include implementing goals from the K–12 Alignment Summit with a continued focus on workforce readiness, hosting events for high school seniors such as job fairs, industry signing days, and keynote speaker engagements and developing early career awareness programs for elementary and middle school students. The group also engages parents, guidance counselors, career coaches and educators in conversations about regional workforce opportunities and regularly convenes school and community leaders to share updates and strengthen collaboration across the education-to-employment pipeline.

Specific K-12 programs include:

• 8th Grade Experience
• Industry Insiders
• Educator Externship

Higher Education

More than 78,000 students are pursuing degrees at 16 colleges and universities across the Savannah region. The Higher Education Working Group is dedicated to strengthening the connection between these institutions and the region’s growing industries. By identifying ways for RISE to help align academic programs with workforce needs, the group is building bridges that prepare students for meaningful careers while supporting employers in finding the skilled talent they need to grow.

This collaborative group brings together higher education professionals, workforce development advocates, nonprofit leaders, economic developers and industry representatives. Regional institutions represented include Georgia Southern University, Savannah State University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah Technical College, Ogeechee Technical College, Southeastern Technical College and Georgia Tech Savannah.