Discovery Communications, Miami Dade College and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Provide Career Exploration and Job Skills Development Opportunities for Students

February 21, 2013 /3BL Media/ - (Miami) Discovery Communications, Miami Dade College (MDC) and Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) announced a partnership to provide career exploration and job skills development opportunities for MDC and MDCPS students. The partnership, which will include panels, internships, resume development and other programs, is designed to provide critical information on job and career skills and better prepare students to take advantage of available job opportunities in today’s economy.

The initiative kicked-off with a series of Career Exploration Panels, at the North Campus of MDC and streamed live to MDCPS middle and high schools. The February 6 panel focused on “Media Careers” and featured Discovery executives and other personnel sharing insights and experiences in the workforce and providing students with information to help guide their career paths. Students learned about the world of work, technical and soft-skills that are required, and hear first-hand about what it takes to pursue a career in the media industry.  Panelists represented broadcast operations, digital media, marketing, and programming.

“As an active member of the local community with our Latin America and U.S. Hispanic headquarters in Miami, Discovery is excited to join Miami Dade College and Miami-Dade County Public Schools in this unique partnership to provide local students with the opportunity to expand their learning beyond classrooms walls and encourage them to explore different careers,” said Enrique Martínez, president and managing director, Discovery Networks Latin America/U.S. Hispanic.  “This partnership continues Discovery’s overall commitment, through its Discovery Education Division and ‘Discover Your Skills’ initiative, to helping students across the country become college and career ready.”

“Workforce development is at the heart of our educational and training agenda at MDC,” said MDC-North Campus President, Dr. José A. Vicente. “We’re pleased to join hands with Discovery Communications and Miami-Dade Public Schools in such a formidable regard.”

“Miami-Dade County Public Schools has enjoyed a successful partnership with Discovery Education for many years, and we look forward to joining with Discovery Communications and Miami Dade College to further extend this relationship and provide students with exposure to cutting edge careers,” said Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Public Schools.  “It's crucial that we prepare today's students for the global workforce, and programs like these will mentor and guide them towards successful careers.”

For Discovery the partnership is an extension of its ongoing “Discover Your Skills” initiative, a multimedia public affairs campaign, including the www.DiscoverYourSkills.com website, designed to provide unemployed and underemployed Americans with access to critical resources for obtaining marketable job skills and expertise, and to raise awareness of career opportunities in skilled trade and other industries.

It also includes “Descubre Tu Talento,” a customized extension of “Discovery Your Skills” specially focused on raising awareness of career opportunities and providing job skills resources to the U.S. Hispanic community through Discovery en Español, Discovery’s flagship U.S. Spanish-language network. The program utilizes on-air PSAs, social media, grassroots initiatives, and a dedicated Spanish website www.tudiscovery.com/descubretutalento to provide Spanish-speakers with links to education and training resources, and tips about workforce preparation, including resume writing and interview basics.

About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 217 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 153 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education transforms classrooms, empowers teachers and captivates students by providing high quality, dynamic, digital content for grades K-12 and community colleges. Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital media, professional development, assessment tools and a passionate educator network to support districts in accelerating student achievement. Discovery Education services like Discovery Education streaming, Discovery Education Techbook™ and Discovery Education Higher Ed, are in more than half of all U.S. schools and 35 countries around the world.  Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

About Miami Dade College
Miami Dade College is the nation’s largest institution of higher education with an enrollment of more than 174,000 students. It is also the nation’s top producer of Associate in Arts and Science degrees and awards more degrees to minorities than any other college or university in the country. The college’s eight campuses and outreach centers offer more than 300 distinct degree programs including several baccalaureate degrees in education, public safety management, supervision and management, nursing, physician assistant studies, film, engineering, biological sciences and others. In fact, its academic and workforce training programs are national models of excellence. MDC is also renowned for its rich cultural programming. It is home of the Miami Book Fair International, Miami International Film Festival, the MDC Live! Performing Arts Series, the National Historic Landmark Miami Freedom Tower, a sculpture park and a large art gallery and theater system. MDC has served nearly 2,000,000 students since it opened its doors in 1960.

About Miami Dade County Public Schools
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, America’s fourth-largest school system with a diverse enrollment of 350,000 students from over 100 countries, offers innovative educational programs at its 435 schools, including elementary, middle, senior high schools and alternative, specialized and vocational centers. Students and their families have an active voice in choosing learning opportunities that foster academic excellence, school-to-career pathways and real-world learning.