A career accelerator is a flexible, co-designed series of career-building and exploration experiences that gives students direct and early access to industry, with sustained opportunities throughout their time at BGSU.

For students, it provides guided opportunities to explore career paths, visit companies, work on projects, meet professionals and build confidence before internships, co-ops and full-time roles.

For employers, it provides more than access to talent — it creates a role in developing it. Through the Advanced Manufacturing Career Accelerator, industry partners can build relationships with students earlier, strengthen awareness of their company and available pathways, and help shape the future workforce through meaningful, sustained engagement.

Every organization is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The strongest partnerships are built through intentional touchpoints over time, and we'll work with you to identify meaningful opportunities that align with your goals, expertise and availability.

Participation can be customized based on your organization’s goals and availability. While not every partner will participate in the same way each semester, the Accelerator is designed around sustained engagement over time. Consistent involvement helps students better understand your organization, your industry and the career pathways available to them.

Organizations have opportunities to engage with students from a variety of majors and class years as they explore careers, develop professional skills and prepare for internships, co-ops and future careers. Partners may also connect with faculty, staff and campus partners aligned with their areas of interest.

Internships and co-ops are an important part of building a strong talent pipeline, but they do not have to be the first step. Many partners begin by engaging with students through site visits, guest speaking, mentoring, networking events, classroom engagement, or industry projects. These experiences help employers build relationships with students earlier and can create stronger pathways to future internship, co-op, and hiring opportunities.

The Advanced Manufacturing Career Accelerator welcomes organizations of all sizes that are connected to the advanced manufacturing ecosystem and interested in engaging with future talent. This may include manufacturers, suppliers, technology companies, engineering firms, logistics providers, consulting firms and other organizations that support modern manufacturing.

The Advanced Manufacturing Career Accelerator is built around formal industry partnership opportunities that support student programming, engagement activities, and the long-term sustainability of the Accelerator. 

Partnership options vary based on the level of involvement, visibility, and engagement an organization is seeking. Organizations interested in participating can connect with our team to identify the best fit based on their goals and desired level of engagement.

Getting started begins with a conversation. We'll learn about your organization, workforce needs and areas of interest, then work with you to identify meaningful opportunities to engage with students through the Advanced Manufacturing Career Accelerator.