The Manufacturing Institute partners with University of Phoenix to Offer Innovative Scholarship Program

PHOENIX, March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Manufacturing Institute, a non-profit, non-partisan education and research affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), has joined University of Phoenix, a subsidiary of Apollo Group (NASDAQ: APOL), to offer the third annual Manufacturing Institute Scholarship program. 

In 2013, The Manufacturing Institute will award ten full-tuition scholarships to current or transitioning manufacturing employees and students completing community college or industry-recognized credentials in manufacturing.  Each scholarship allows a prospective student the opportunity to complete an undergraduate or master's degree program at University of Phoenix. Recipients may choose to attend a University of Phoenix on-ground campus or may attend University of Phoenix online.

"The American economy is resting on the shoulders of the manufacturing industry right now," said Jennifer McNelly, president of The Manufacturing Institute.  "Manufacturing employers need to empower their employees through continuing education.  Our efforts at the Manufacturing Institute, including the 2013 scholarship program, support manufacturers in attracting, qualifying and developing their workforce."

The "skills gap" has become increasingly evident in recent years, hitting the manufacturing industry especially hard.  Manufacturers are currently unable to fill nearly 600,000 skilled positions. In fact, a recent survey by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute found that nearly 70 percent of manufacturing companies nationwide are facing a moderate to severe shortage of available, skilled workers.  The 2013 Manufacturing Institute Scholarship program aids the effort to close the skills gap, giving employers an avenue to encourage their workforce to attain educational credentials that will facilitate career success. 

"The skills gap in America is a growing concern," said Tim Welsh, Senior Vice President, National Industry Strategy Group at University of Phoenix.  "For the first time in history, a generation of Americans may be less educated than their parents and grandparents.  At University of Phoenix, we believe that it is crucial for educators and employers to join together to advance our workforce and our economy through growing the manufacturing industry."

The Manufacturing Institute aims to research and support manufacturing excellence, innovation, and talent and deliver solutions to keep manufacturers in America globally competitive.  The Manufacturing Institute is the authority on the attraction, qualification, and development of world-class manufacturing talent.

For years, University of Phoenix workforce development initiatives, educational partnerships, corporate alliances, and scholarship programs have been focused on this same goal – closing the nationwide skills gap and putting America back to work.  University of Phoenix has worked with The Manufacturing Institute to design specialized curriculum that reflects up-to-the-minute needs of manufacturing employers, giving graduates a competitive edge in the workforce and allowing employers to fill thousands of skilled positions.  Their efforts have resulted in the successful and innovative Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration Manufacturing Sector degree program. 

To learn more about the third annual Manufacturing Institute Scholarship program, visit www.phoenix.edu/MIscholar.

To learn more about University of Phoenix's efforts to better equip the American workforce through innovative partnerships, learning tools, and program offerings, visit www.apollogrp.edu/workforce.

About The Manufacturing Institute
The Manufacturing Institute (the Institute) is the 501 (c) 3 affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. As a non-partisan organization, the Institute is committed to delivering leading-edge information and services to the nation's manufacturers. The Institute is the authority on the attraction, qualification, and development of world- class manufacturing talent. Visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org

About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help students balance education and life in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, challenging courses and interactive learning can help students pursue personal and career aspirations without putting their lives on hold. It's this link between education and careers that is at the core of the University's efforts.  As the flagship university of Apollo Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit http://www.phoenix.edu.

SOURCE University of Phoenix; The Manufacturing Institute