Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Streamlines and Expands Work-Based Learning with Vector Pathways

The Customer

Union County Vocational-Technical Schools (UCVTS) in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, is committed to fostering a high-quality learning experience that prepares students for success in the workforce. As a Career and Technical Education (CTE), institution the district enrolls 2,000 students each year and supports over 1,200 of those students in work-based learning (WBL) experiences. In the 2024-2025 school year, UCVTS programs boast more than 200 active business partnerships, all contributing to the students’ practical learning experiences.

The Challenge

Union County Vocational-Technical Schools faced several challenges in managing its expansive work-based learning program, including:

• Automating the data collection process from students and industry partners.
• Digitizing forms and workflows to ensure data accuracy.
• Streamlining work-based learning initiatives to enhance efficiency across the board.

These challenges made it difficult to keep track of the growing number of students, business partners, and program metrics.

The Choice

To address these challenges, UCVTS chose the Vector Pathways Work-Based Learning Platform. The district needed a solution to:

• Increase data collection efficiency to improve accuracy and simplify end-of-year reporting.
• Centralize and organize all work-based learning initiatives.
• Save time and effort with industry partner information management.

Vector Pathways offered the tools to help the district overcome these challenges and streamline the entire WBL program to increase career readiness for students.

The Change

By leveraging Vector Pathways, UCVTS achieved the following outcomes:

• Centralized and Streamlined Data Collection: The district moved from outdated paper processes to a fully digital system, making it easier to track and manage work-based learning data. Data from both students and industry partners is now easy to collect and organize, which has improved the accuracy of reports and decision-making.
• Improved Efficiency and Time Savings: With the ability to quickly access and analyze student time logs and other key metrics, administrators can focus more on strategic initiatives rather than administrative work.
• Stronger Business Partnerships: The platform’s ability to track and manage multiple contacts within the same business partner organization has helped UCVTS expand and strengthen its network of over 200 active business partnerships.
• Increased Student Engagement: With more efficient data collection and streamlined workflows, students are receiving the support they need to succeed in their work-based learning experiences, contributing to enhanced career readiness.

Conclusion

By adopting Vector Pathways, Union County Vocational-Technical Schools has modernized its work-based learning program, improved operational efficiency, and enhanced its ability to provide students with meaningful, career-ready experiences. With plans to continue expanding data collection and strengthening business partnerships, the district is poised to further elevate its CTE program in the years to come.

About Vector Solutions

Vector Solutions’ Work-Based Learning Platform, Vector Pathways, enables schools, districts, and CTE centers to create more work-based learning experiences for students through streamlined workflows, business partner engagement, and experience tracking.

Our Vector Pathways platform leverages powerful tools to increase the effectiveness of your WBL program by:

• Enhancing & Streamlining Business Partnerships
• Tracking WBL Program Metrics & Data to Drive Decisions
• Simplifying & Digitizing WBL Programs
• Increasing Student Engagement & Demonstrating Career Readiness