A Proven Workforce Development Model Ready for New Regions

Across the country, employers need skilled talent, communities need stronger workforce pipelines and educators need meaningful ways to connect classroom learning to future opportunities.

Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®), administered by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, was created to help solve those challenges.

Originally developed in Virginia as part of a broader workforce and economic development strategy, GO TEC helps middle school students explore high-demand career pathways through hands-on, industry-aligned learning experiences. What began as a pilot serving three middle schools has grown into a statewide initiative that will serve 84 middle schools across 52 Virginia school divisions during the 2026-2027 school year.

As GO TEC continues to expand across Virginia, we are actively seeking licensing and implementation partners interested in bringing the model to additional states and regions.

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Seeking Licensing and Implementation Partners

GO TEC is designed to work through strong regional and statewide partners.

We are looking for organizations that can help implement, coordinate and grow GO TEC within their communities while aligning the model with local workforce priorities and industry needs.

Potential partners include:

  • Workforce development organizations
  • State and regional education organizations
  • Economic development organizations
  • Community college systems
  • Industry associations
  • Foundations and philanthropic organizations
  • Regional talent development collaboratives
  • Other organizations positioned to serve as conveners and connectors

These organizations often sit at the intersection of education, workforce development, industry and economic development. GO TEC was built to support exactly that kind of collaboration.

The program offers a proven framework that combines industry-aligned curriculum, hands-on technologies, educator training, implementation support and employer engagement. That framework can be adapted to local needs while maintaining the core elements that have driven its success in Virginia.

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Create Community-Wide Value with GO TEC

Why Organizations Are Interested in GO TEC

Whether they have realized it or not, most communities face the same challenge that inspired GO TEC’s creation.

Students often reach high school with limited awareness of the industries, technologies and careers available within their own communities.

Employers, both current and prospective, need stronger talent pipelines to support growth and long-term competitiveness.

GO TEC addresses both challenges by introducing students to high-demand career pathways during the critical middle school years through engaging, hands-on experiences that connect education to real-world opportunities.

The model provides:

  • Industry-aligned, competency-based curriculum
  • Hands-on technologies and equipment
  • Professional development and educator training
  • Ongoing implementation support
  • Career pathway awareness and exploration
  • Industry engagement opportunities
  • Continuous curriculum updates informed by workforce trends

Rather than providing a standalone curriculum, GO TEC delivers an integrated system designed to support students, educators, employers and communities alike. This comprehensive approach allows schools to launch and sustain high-quality programs without major burdens on educators and administrators. It also helps ensure students have meaningful experiences that connect classroom learning with future opportunities.

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Built Around Regional Workforce Priorities

GO TEC was intentionally designed to connect with the industries that drive regional economies.

Current modules introduce students to concepts, technologies and careers connected to fields including:

Electrical Engineering Mechanical Engineering  Manufacturing Engineering
Automation & Robotics Welding Precision Machining
Healthcare Technologies IT Coding & Networking  Metrology
Precision Agriculture Energy 
  

Modules can be implemented, emphasized or created based on the workforce needs of a particular region. This flexibility allows GO TEC to support a wide range of workforce initiatives while maintaining a consistent focus on career awareness, skill development and talent pipeline growth.

Supporting Workforce and Economic Development

Communities seeking to attract and retain employers must be able to demonstrate a commitment to developing future talent.
Employers need confidence that strong workforce pipelines will exist not just now, but years into the future.

Those were the realizations that led regional leaders in Virginia to ideate and create the GO TEC model, which focuses on middle school career exploration.

By connecting students to high-demand careers earlier, helping them understand educational pathways and exposing them to modern technologies, GO TEC contributes to the long-term workforce capacity that communities need to compete and grow. Virginia has already seen several major economic development successes where GO TEC directly influenced investment and job quantity and quality decisions for major employers.

Bringing GO TEC Beyond Virginia

Virginia remains a major focus for GO TEC, with continued growth planned across the Commonwealth. At the same time, interest in the model continues to grow beyond Virginia’s borders. GO TEC is actively exploring partnerships that can support implementation in additional states and regions.

We are looking for organizations that share a commitment to:

  • Career-connected learning
  • Workforce readiness
  • Industry engagement
  • Economic development
  • Talent pipeline growth

If your organization is interested in licensing, implementing or supporting GO TEC in a new region, we look forward to exploring how the model could align with your goals and workforce priorities.

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