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On our Port campus and throughout the region, world-class institutions strengthen the talent of thousands of people while they inspire our future innovators. Together, they connect today’s and upcoming generations to leading advanced technology industries at home that are pursuing important opportunities around the world.

 

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A HUB FOR INNOVATION
Arena for esports and concerts

The Port’s state-of-the art innovation center serves as a unique platform to connect the San Antonio community, educators and the tech industry. A vital educational resource for the region, the innovation center is accessible by regional schools and has a capacity to accommodate STEM programs for well over 100,000 students per year.

Among its features, the innovation center will provide the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT) – currently housed in a preview facility on the Port campus – with a considerably larger space to display its technological exhibits alongside modern classrooms to support simultaneous activities by school groups and other visitors.

The innovation center also includes a large capacity technology arena to host educational programs and technology competitions and demonstrations, such as electronic gaming, robotics and drone racing, as well as a state-of-the-art collaborative technology transfer workshop and industry showroom to develop and highlight locally-created innovations and market them to the world.

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PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION

The Port’s tech learning environment is a growing hub for regional science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-based education. The efforts of our education partners are key in guiding students toward career paths in sectors that are rapidly growing at the Port and throughout the region – such as aerospace, robotics and cybersecurity, among others.

The San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT)

STEM EDUCATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

The Port is home to the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT), a non-profit organization that delivers an array of STEM-based educational programs in partnership with area educators. Through its curricula, SAMSAT offers classroom learning, camps and engaging demonstrations that build innovative minds through the exploration of the past, present and future of science, technology, engineering and math.

Since 2018, thousands of students have participated in free activities at SAMSAT that include classes focused on cybersecurity, aerospace, architecture, telecommunications and other scientific fields.

The organization also offers two maker spaces that enable students to develop and test their creations: one located at SAMSAT and the mobile Geekbus, which travels to schools and other locales to provide offsite STEM educational experiences.

Museum partners include:

  • NASA
  • The WEX Foundation
  • Girls, Inc.
  • School districts
  • Girl Scouts
  • Impact San Antonio
  • Alamo STEM Ecosystem

Additionally, SAMSAT is home to a museum that showcases an array of technological displays dating from the 1800’s to the modern era. The vast collection features hundreds of artifacts that chronicle the history of innovation that has changed the world, including many breakthroughs that were developed in San Antonio such as the personal computer and the camera cell phone.

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WEX FOUNDATION 
WEX FOUNDATION: weather balloons, rocket launches, NASA

Based at SAMSAT, the nonprofit WEX Foundation supports the growth of STEM education with a theme of space exploration. Through partnerships with both SAMSAT and NASA, the organization delivers enriching learning experiences such as high-altitude weather balloon launches, geology-based field trips and the New Worlds Await You program – a network of after-school clubs that features national STEM challenges for student space exploration.

WEX Foundation promotes, encourages and supports the convergence of tech and education applications for human space exploration and its long-term implications for the educational development of the nation’s next generation of scientist, engineers, mathematicians and technologists. It aims to promote K-12 STEM education while improving STEM teaching and student comprehension in school districts traditionally underserved and underrepresented in institutions of higher education.

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Dee Howard Foundation

Dee Howard Foundation San Antonio

The Dee Howard Foundation honors the legacy of aviation pioneer Dee Howard by preserving the rich history of aviation in San Antonio and expanding on that history for current and future generations. The foundation helps provide access to aviation education, technical skills training and employment opportunities in the San Antonio region. It is comprised of several advisory councils, including the Education Advisory Council that represents area institutions which offer courses, certificates, diplomas and degrees related to aviation and aerospace.

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Our Neighbors

Edgewood and South San ISD students and interns at Port San Antonio

The Port has developed a strategic partnership with the Edgewood and South San Antonio independent school districts that prepares bright students for rewarding careers. The two districts that straddle the Port campus have launched numerous STEM-based initiatives and, along with schools throughout the region, participate in several programs developed by SAMSAT and its partners.

paid Internships at Port San Antonio

Additionally, through the Port’s summer internship program, students from the two school districts spend six weeks acquiring new skills that support the organization’s mission of attracting and growing major industries.

With the Port being one of the region’s major tech hubs, students have front-row access to innovations that are changing the world while contributing their own new ideas, energy and perspectives in areas such as marketing, communications, finance, property management, information technology and business development – creating opportunities that will help them build exciting futures on our campus.

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COMPASS ROSE
COMPASS ROSE, a public school

A tuition-free, STEM-based public charter school, Compass Rose  – which opened during the 2020-21 academic year – serves San Antonio-area students in kindergarten and grades 1,2 and 6 and will ultimately accommodate over 1,000 students in grades K through 12. 

new facility for Compass Rose

The school offers curricula and special programs connected with industries that are thriving at the Port, including aerospace, cybersecurity, robotics, IT and several applied technologies – equipping students with a strong educational foundation that will empower them to pursue high-tech careers.

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CAST Schools

Centers for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) schools

The Centers for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) is a network of tuition-free, industry-led, career-themed high schools in San Antonio. CAST’s innovative school model allows students to learn by doing and gain real world experience through internship, job shadowing and mentorship opportunities, and is among the first of its kind in the state of Texas.

Each CAST school focuses on a set of high-demand, high-wage industries. Students choose a school based on career interest, setting personal goals and mastering learning concepts at their own pace. Students tackle real-world projects designed by local employers and work in teams alongside industry mentors.

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PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION EXPERTISE

With its suite of training capabilities, the Port is a vital resource for strengthening San Antonio’s workforce. Various accreditations and certifications are available to help professionals bolster their careers and assist students in maximizing their employment opportunities upon graduation.

SAMSAT EDUCATION CENTER

samsat education

The SAMSAT Education Center—a collaboration between SAMSAT and the Port, as well as various educational and workforce development partners—connects people with new learning and career opportunities.

The Education Center allows SAMSAT and other educators and workforce development partners to deliver an array of training and placement services — helping to support the region’s education and training programs. Among them are efforts coordinated by Workforce Solutions Alamo, with funding through the City of San Antonio and Bexar County, along with support from The Alamo Colleges District, Project Quest and SAWorks.

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IPSecure
IPSecure cybersecurity training facility

One of San Antonio’s cybersecurity pioneers, IPSecure oversees a training facility at the Port that allows government- and private-sector information security professionals to earn accreditation through the State of Texas. Committed to supporting the local education system and workforce pipeline, the firm offers internship and employment opportunities to select students who successfully complete training course curricula.

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WORKFORCE PARTNERS

SA Works
WORKFORCE PARTNERS SA Works


Part of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF), SA Works’ workforce development mission aligns education providers with private sector demand and promotes economic mobility for thousands of people throughout the region each year. The organization’s nationally-recognized efforts include innovative internship and job-shadow programs that provide hands-on experience to young people as they prepare for careers in the region’s leading sectors.

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Workforce Solutions
workforce solutions alamo

The Workforce Solutions Alamo Board (WSA) serves as the governing board for the 13-county regional workforce system which is made up of a network of service providers and contractors that connects people and jobs. WSA utilizes over $100 million in combined funding to meet employer needs, including through education and training for job seekers; providing business services to existing and new employers; and subsidized childcare. With its partners, WSA has access to additional funding, including Jobs Skills Grants. Organization members represent industry, educators, economic development, labor, community organizations, and public partners. Programs include entrepreneurship and other professional training; support for veterans transitioning to the private sector; recruitment services for employers; and an array of skills training options. 

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HIGHER EDUCATION

A global center for industry excellence begins with world-class educators.

ALAMO ACADEMIES 
ALAMO ACADEMIES: Aerospace, IT, Cyber, Manufacturing, Medical training

Part of the Alamo Colleges district and based at the adjacent St. Philip’s College – Southwest Campus, Alamo Academies and its nationally-acclaimed dual-credit program provides college-level training to top high school students in areas of advanced technology – including cybersecurity, aerospace and advanced manufacturing. The program has been an innovation leader in aligning students’ education with the needs of firms at the Port.

Alamo Academies began in 2001 with a mission to expose high school students to STEM careers driven by industry. Students who enroll in Alamo Academies’ programs are exposed to high demand career pathways through a hands-on curriculum.

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ALAMO COLLEGES
ALAMO COLLEGES

The region’s community college district, Alamo Colleges features an array of degree and certificate programs to grow today’s top industries. With five campuses, students can take advantage of a vast array of programs and two-year degrees while learning in modern and high-tech facilities. Alamo Colleges’ credits transfer to four-year universities for those pursuing bachelor’s or higher degrees, and district-wide workforce development programs help professionals build new careers while satisfying the needs of today’s employers and top industries.

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HALLMARK UNIVERSITY
HALLMARK UNIVERSITY

Hallmark University is an innovative San Antonio-based nonprofit university whose curricula are aligned with the needs of today’s top industries. Hallmark University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), a private, nonprofit, independent national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.

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Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU)
OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY (OLLU)

OLLU offers bachelor's degrees in Computer Information Systems and Security (CISS) that prepare graduates to become leading professionals in information systems and technology in all industries. Graduates of the program are prepared to help develop, manage and protect computers and networks in government, medical centers, financial centers in virtually every sector of the economy.

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St. Mary’s University
ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY

Through the St. Mary’s University School of Science, Engineering and Technology, students can enroll in the Computer Science and Application Systems program, which involves the study of digital computer hardware and software while emphasizing the software development process used to solve problems. The university also offers computer science curricula, which employs the latest tools and technology to provide a well-structured education.

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TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY – SAN ANTONIO
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY – SAN ANTONIO

The University is home to the Center for Information Technology and Cyber Security (CITCS), which supports the development of a comprehensive IT and cybersecurity education and research program that prepares students for cyber careers. In 2018, the institution positioned itself as a prominent leader in cybersecurity education by announcing a partnership with the Facebook Cyber Security University Program – making it the first university in Texas, and the ninth in the U.S., to join the program.

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THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO (UTSA)
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO

UTSA is home to the top-ranked cybersecurity program in the nation, according to the Ponemon Institute, and operates three Center of Academic Excellence designations—in information assurance/cyber defense education, information assurance research and cyber operations—from the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. The university is vital in reinforcing the Port’s workforce as our campus continues to raise its profile as the premiere tech and cybersecurity hub for the region.  

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University of the Incarnate Word (UIW)
UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD (UIW)

UIW’s Computer Information Systems program offers Bachelor of Science degrees in both Computer Information Systems (CIS) and Cyber Security Systems (CSEC). The theoretical knowledge and experiential skills covered in both degree plans provide students a foundation for multiple career paths in these technical fields. The CIS and CSEC majors share foundation and advanced courses in computer hardware, networks, telecommunications, operating systems, programming, website development, database systems, systems analysis, and management of technology and IT personnel.

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