MDC received more than $1.7 million in performance funding from the state to support student and academic success.
Miami, Sept. 29, 2023 – For a fourth consecutive year, Miami Dade College (MDC) ranks number one in the Florida College System (FCS) for reporting the most students earning industry certifications during the 2023 state reporting year. The College achieved the top spot for the fourth year in a row by reporting 1,778 certifications in the areas of education, health sciences, justice, nursing and technology.
“This is a significant accomplishment for MDC and a testament of our commitment to growing the local talent pool and boosting the economy,” said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. “Florida is well on its way to becoming number one in the nation in workforce education.”
The $1.7 million in performance funding from the state will be used to increase the number of students who earn industry certifications by focusing on current and new initiatives, including offering new industry credentials aligned with curriculum. MDC allocates these funds to increase industry certifications and advance other priorities that support student and academic success. Many of the courses aligned with an industry certification include vouchers to take certification exams for free or students receive reimbursement after passing an eligible industry certification exam. In addition, students can also earn credits at MDC if they have active industry certifications that align with courses for associate and baccalaureate degree programs.
An industry certification is a credential recognized by business and industry. It is earned through an assessment administered and recognized by an industry third-party or governing board. They are valuable to employers because they measure competency and validate knowledge of skills in a particular industry, giving students an added advantage in a competitive job market.
Over the past six years, MDC’s Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Malou C. Harrison has facilitated the access and attainment of industry credentials as a student success imperative, with support from the College’s ecosystem of assessment, evaluation and testing directors. Their leadership and collaboration has helped secure more than $8.2 million in performance funding to support thousands of students in completing their college education.
Learn more about industry certifications offered at MDC at www.mdc.edu/industrycertifications.
About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College (MDC) is the most diverse institution in the nation, with 167 nations and 63 languages represented in its student body. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer over 300 distinct degree pathways, including associate and baccalaureate degrees, certifications and apprenticeships. MDC is the recipient of many top national awards, including the prestigious Aspen Prize. The College changes lives through accessible, high-quality teaching and learning experiences. It is home to the Miami Culinary Institute, the Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex, the Miami Fashion Institute, The Idea Center, the Cybersecurity Center of the Americas, two AI Centers, the Center for Learning, Innovation and Simulation at the Medical Campus, the Business Innovation & Technology Center, the School for Advanced Studies and New World School of the Arts, among others. MDC has been recognized among the nation’s “Great Colleges to Work For” since the program’s inception. The College serves as an economic, cultural and civic leader for the advancement of our diverse global community. MDC alumni and employees contribute more than $3 billion annually to the local economy, and graduates occupy top leadership positions in every major industry. MDC’s renowned rich cultural programming includes the Miami Book Fair, Miami Film Festival, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, Koubek Center Mansion and Gardens, Live Arts Miami at MDC, the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, and the Museum of Art and Design. MDC has admitted more than 2.5 million students and counting, since it opened its doors in 1960. Approximately 120,000 students are currently enrolled. For more information, visit www.mdc.edu.