MATE Center: Partnering with Educators and Educational Institutions
Authors: Hall James B. 
Published: October 2008

Partnerships with educational institutions are critical to the success of the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center. These relationships help provide a variety of interactions which result in improved curricula and better prepared students entering the workforce and allow the Center to reach beyond its home institution of Monterey Peninsula College (MPC).

About the MATE Center

The MATE Center, headquartered at Monterey Peninsula College in Monterey, California, is funded by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) and has been in existence since 1997. The MATE Center is a national network of community colleges, high schools, universities, research institutions, marine industries, professional societies, and working professionals. The mission of the MATE Center is to improve marine technical education and in this way help to prepare the nation's future workforce for ocean-related occupations.

Background

Since its inception in 1997, the MATE Center has relied on educational institutions, with their dedicated faculty, to form the basis of its wide-ranging collaborations. These institutions are primarily community colleges, as the MATE Center is funded as part of a community college workforce investment initiative by the National Science Foundation, but has included other institutions, as well. Educational institutions that comprise the MATE consortium are diverse, and include high schools, community colleges, universities and research institutions that can be public or private entities. They come from a variety of locations around the United States.

While the MATE Center works with many different educational institutions, formal partnerships are established when a memorandum of understanding is signed by both the MATE Center and the partner institution. This agreement solidifies the relationship and allows both parties an assurance of a mutually beneficial relationship. The agreement is signed by both a faculty member and an administrator at the partner college, along with senior members of the MATE Center and Monterey Peninsula College.

Benefits to MATE Educational Institution Members

These partnerships add value to partner institutions by demonstrating commitment to common goals and principles of improving the nation's marine technical workforce. Collectively, the membership of the MATE consortium can achieve progress toward minimizing barriers and maximizing flow of people, funds, and information between members. The MATE membership can be influential as a group in voicing concerns, and in disseminating ideas and models. Benefits to the partner institutions include:Access to information collected and disseminated by the MATE Center.Access to curriculum modules developed by other members.Access to internship opportunities for students.Increased communication with educational institutions developing or offering marine related programs.Increased communication with and access to employers and employees in marine fields.Participation in a National effort sponsored by the National Science Foundation to improve marine science and technology education.Increased opportunities for collaborative projects, including fundraising and grant writing, achievable only through pooling of talent and abilities.

Requirements of Member Institutions

Like any formal relationship, certain requirements are expected from each member of the partnership. The MATE Center has tried to keep the requirements of member institutions to a minimum, but it does require that partner institutions: