Educator Professional Development
The Institute for Real-World Education and Curriculum Advancement (IRWECA) is a partnership between the Division of Research and Innovation at SCSU and the Connecticut State Department of Education.
The goals are:
Increase educator awareness of academic and career opportunities in Connecticut.
Support educators’ development and implementation of new teaching and learning aligned with the needs of those companies.
Industry Site Visits
Connecticut educators have an opportunity to
- Tour Leading Companies in Manufacturing, Food & Sustainability, and Emerging Technologies
- See first-hand how your students will use the knowledge you (their educator) impart in their future career.
- Learn about resources and supports available to enhance teaching and learning.
Academic Year Supports
Academic year support are “made-to-order” in which support personnel (i.e., curriculum facilitators and industry professionals) who match the needs of a given educator team, are hired and retained.
What the IRWECA team at SCSU does: we retain a highly experienced curriculum facilitator who assists in sharing what other schools and districts have implemented, best practices, meeting facilitation (if that is needed) as well as recruiting an industry professional aligned with the needs of individual teams.
Who can participate: Interdisciplinary educator teams from schools and districts across Connecticut are invited to apply to the IRWECA program.
Teams must have at least 3 educators, 1 must be a CTE (Career and Technical Education teacher) and another must be STEM (i.e., Math, Science, or Computer Science). School counselors, administrators and Educators from other disciplines are also encouraged to be part of the team.
Teams select from among one of the CTE career clusters including but not limited to Agriculture (including Aquaculture), Manufacturing (including food products and processing), or Health Care (including Biotechnology), and are supported in their work to develop and implement industry-aligned curriculum modules.
IRWECA is designed to be flexible. Individual teams get to schedule when to meet in coordination with their industry partner and the curriculum facilitator, both of whom are retained to support each team for up to 30 hours per year. We ask that you meet regularly, at least 1-3 hours per month, and work to develop and implement 1 or more industry-aligned curriculum modules.
Please find below a list upcoming IRWECA events for the fall.
Fall 2026 IRWECA Events:
- September 24, Thursday 4:00 – 6:30 PM: Wallingford Wastewater Treatment Plant (Wallingford)
- Apart of the Sewer Division, the facility cleans residential and commercial waste water before safely releasing it into the Quinnipiac. During our engagement, we will be able to see the seasonal tertiary process utilizing phosphorus.
- October 23, Friday 8:45 AM – 2:00 PM: Emerging Technologies Forum (101 College Street, New Haven)
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- Join fellow educators and industry leaders to gain perspective on future trends while learning about opportunities and tools to support career pathways in emerging technologies.
- While not an IRWECA Behind-the-Scenes engagement, this event is free for educators and hosted by the Southern Connecticut State University Innovation Hub with support from the CTSDE
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- November 5, Thursday 4:00 – 6:30 PM: CSCU Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology (New Haven)
- The Center fosters collaborative, interdisciplinary research and educational initiatives/programs in micro, nano, and quantum science and technology with the goal of enhancing Connecticut’s research and workforce competitiveness.
Click on any photo to expand
History of IRWECA and MMSTI
Since 2013, in partnership with Platt Technical High School and ManufactureCT (formerly the New Haven Manufacturers Association), we ran the Materials and Manufacturing Summer Teachers Institute (MMSTI). We have rebranded and incorporated MMSTI into IRWECA, as the IRWECA Summer Industry Experience for Educators. This is coupled with year-round support for educators so that what is learned during the summer experience can be further considered, developed, and implemented with on-going supports.
More information about MMSTI:
- MMSTI 2014 (Video on the right)
- MMSTI 2019
Were it not for all of the partnerships and learning associated with MMSTI, IRWECA would not exist.
Many thanks to the Connecticut State Department of Education, ManufactureCT, and Southern Connecticut State University for making IRWECA possible.
2014 Materials & Manufacturing Summer Teachers Institute
Please find below a list upcoming IRWECA events for the fall.
Fall 2026 IRWECA Events:
- September 24, Thursday 4:00 – 6:30 PM: Wallingford Wastewater Treatment Plant (Wallingford)
- Apart of the Sewer Division, the facility cleans residential and commercial waste water before safely releasing it into the Quinnipiac. During our engagement, we will be able to see the seasonal tertiary process utilizing phosphorus.
- October 23, Friday 8:45 AM – 2:00 PM: Emerging Technologies Forum (101 College Street, New Haven)
-
- Join fellow educators and industry leaders to gain perspective on future trends while learning about opportunities and tools to support career pathways in emerging technologies.
- While not an IRWECA Behind-the-Scenes engagement, this event is free for educators and hosted by the Southern Connecticut State University Innovation Hub with support from the CTSDE
-
-
- November 5, Thursday 4:00 – 6:30 PM: CSCU Center for Quantum and Nanotechnology (New Haven)
- The Center fosters collaborative, interdisciplinary research and educational initiatives/programs in micro, nano, and quantum science and technology with the goal of enhancing Connecticut’s research and workforce competitiveness.
History of IRWECA and MMSTI
Since 2013, in partnership with Platt Technical High School and ManufactureCT (formerly the New Haven Manufacturers Association), we ran the Materials and Manufacturing Summer Teachers Institute (MMSTI). We have rebranded and incorporated MMSTI into IRWECA, as the IRWECA Summer Industry Experience for Educators. This is coupled with year-round support for educators so that what is learned during the summer experience can be further considered, developed, and implemented with on-going supports.
More information about MMSTI:
- MMSTI 2014 (Video on the right)
- MMSTI 2019
Were it not for all of the partnerships and learning associated with MMSTI, IRWECA would not exist.
Many thanks to the Connecticut State Department of Education, ManufactureCT, and Southern Connecticut State University for making IRWECA possible.
2014 Materials & Manufacturing Summer Teachers Institute
IRWECA Partners
Medtronic is a foundational pillar of 21st-century medical innovation, producing cutting-edge technology ranging from calipers, X-rays, MRIs, and specialized cameras to advanced syringes and surgical robotics.
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Fascia’s Chocolates serves as an exemplary real-world laboratory demonstrating how Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) principles directly scale a small family business into an enterprise employing 40 individuals and serving 130 retail outlets while creating handcrafted chocolates and gelato.
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As the Northeast’s leading engineering, environmental, planning, and design consulting firm Tighe and Bond deliver technical expertise, multidisciplinary mindset, and exceptional service that help produce successful project outcomes. Capabilities include building services, environmental consulting, land use, transportation, and water engineering, allowing them to deliver complex projects that require cross-functional expertise.
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Park City Packaging’s Stratford location serves as the primary hub for military packaging, engineering, and wood crate manufacturing. This site includes packaging engineers, military contract specialists, and labeling specialists that find innovative solutions to packaging and logistics needs.
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Athletic Brewing is the sixth-largest non-alcoholic craft brewer in the United States and commands 10% of the European market. The company’s core mission is to positively impact customer health, fitness, and happiness while benefiting local communities and the environment
Visit WebsiteOur Reports
Please find below a link to our latest industry experience reports.
Fall 2025
Autumn Industry Experience Program Evaluation
Late August
A workforce development and professional learning opportunity specially designed for CTE educators throughout Connecticut
Summer 2025
Summer Industry Experience Program Evaluation
June 24 – July 3, 2025
A workforce development and professional learning opportunity specially designed for CTE educators throughout Connecticut
Spring and Summer 2026
Spring and Summer Industry Experience Program Evaluation
March 18 – July 2, 2026
A workforce development and professional learning opportunity specially designed for CTE educators throughout Connecticut
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