Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches Work-Based Learning Initiative for Massachusetts Public Higher Education Students

Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches Work-Based Learning Initiative for Massachusetts Public Higher Education Students

 

Initiative will grow co-ops for students at state’s public campuses

 
LOWELL – The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced The Massachusetts Cooperative Education Initiative to expand cooperative education (co-ops) for students at Massachusetts public higher education institutions, creating more opportunities for students to gain paid work experience while strengthening the state’s workforce pipeline. This is the first pilot initiative out of the Department of Higher Education’s (DHE) Innovation Hub. DHE is awarding $20,000 each to Bridgewater State University, Framingham State University and the Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) to establish regional co-op partnerships, which are slated to launch for students starting in the fall 2026 semester. The agency is also partnering with UMass Lowell, which has a robust co-op program, to provide state universities with guidance to grow co-op programs on their campuses, including through technical assistance and coaching.
 
“In Massachusetts, a college degree should come with real experience and a direct path to a good-paying job,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That’s why we’ve made historic investments in public education and set a goal of 100,000 apprenticeships over the next decade, and now we’re launching this initiative to expand co-ops and work-based learning so more students can build skills, earn a paycheck and graduate ready to succeed.”
 
“Building a strong workforce means making sure our colleges and employers are working hand in hand,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “Co-ops allow students to earn money and gain career experience while they’re in college, and they help ensure that students graduate with the skills and knowledge that regional employers are seeking.”
 
Co-ops are a type of work-based learning where students participate in full-time, paid work experience for four to eight months and do not attend classes during that time. Research shows that co-op participation leads to better employment, earnings and career satisfaction.
 
Lt. Governor Driscoll, Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike and Higher Education Commissioner Noe Ortega announced this co-op initiative today at UMass Lowell, in partnership with the campus and Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (MBAE). The announcement was followed by a panel discussion with UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen, Bridgewater State University President Fred Clark, Framingham State University President Nancy Niemi, MassArt President Mary Grant, co-op students and employers, and Strada Education Senior Vice President Dave Clayton.
 
“Career-connected learning is crucial to students’ academic experiences,” said Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike. “I’m proud that Massachusetts is exploring how we can grow work-based learning for our public higher education students, creating an infrastructure that benefits students and our workforce for years to come.”
 
“Work-based learning is an essential focus of the Innovation Hub, which is designed to pilot promising approaches to college access and student success and explore whether they can be scaled throughout our public higher education system,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Noe Ortega. “The Innovation Hub and DHE’s coordinating role put us in a unique position to grow work-based learning across public colleges and universities in Massachusetts, building on the efforts of these institutions.”
 
DHE’s Innovation Hub was announced in March 2025 following a $2.1 million grant award from the non-profit Axim Collaborative. The first-of-its kind in the nation, the Hub allows DHE to pilot innovative approaches to enhancing public higher education co-ops, strengthening pathways from high school to college, and integrating high-value non-degree credentials such as industry recognized certificates or licensure.
 
“Cooperative education can be transformative for college students — providing invaluable work experience, creating connections that turn into good-paying jobs after graduation and making a college education more affordable. We’re thrilled by the success of our co-op program at UMass Lowell, supported by partnerships with the Department of Higher Education and Axim Collaborative. We look forward to sharing the recipe for success we’re developing with colleagues across the Commonwealth so that other students will also experience the benefits of these programs,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen.
 
UMass Lowell’s co-op program has grown steadily toward efforts to integrate co-op experiences more seamlessly into academic requirements while building interest among students and opportunities among employers. According to UMass Lowell, students completing six-month co-ops earn on average $20,714 during these work-based learning experiences, a significant factor in making college more affordable, while creating connections that in some cases turn into permanent jobs after graduation.
 
“We are thrilled to see our state higher education institutions embrace this model of education that pairs academic preparation with the development of work readiness skills that are essential to career success. Cooperative education allows students to enter the workforce seamlessly after college, and that is a huge benefit to the student and the employer,” said Ed Lambert, Executive Director, Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education.
 
"The Board of Higher Education has set as strategic priorities the fostering of productive Innovation across public higher education as well as the advancement of Economic Mobility as an outcome,” said Board of Higher Education Chair Chris Gabrieli. “Co-op education has a rich tradition dating back over a century in Massachusetts. There is strong evidence that participating in such an authentic employment experience helps students, especially from first-generation and low-income backgrounds, to gain skills, confidence and professional networks and ultimately to get a better first job and career after graduation. We are delighted to be able to combine our priorities with the clear appetite of our public colleges and the expertise of UMass Lowell to broaden the number of co-op offering colleges and over time to make this experience far more commonly available to our students."
 
Statements of Support
 
Dr. Linda Thompson, Chair of the Massachusetts State Universities Council of Presidents, and President of Westfield State University: 
“Across our state university system, we want every student to graduate not just with a degree, but with the confidence and real-world experience to shape what comes next. Through the Innovation Hub, we have an opportunity to grow partnerships like regional co-ops that bring learning to life and connect students to meaningful careers. This is about more than preparing students for the workforce; it’s about opening doors, advancing equity, and making sure every student has the chance to thrive and build a future filled with purpose and possibility."
 
Bridgewater State University President Frederick W. Clark, Jr., Esq:
“Bridgewater State University is focused on creating pathways to employment for all our students. The co-op pilot is attracting strong interest from students and faculty and builds on the many opportunities Bridgewater provides students to explore, prepare for and connect to career opportunities.”
 
Framingham State University President Nancy S. Niemi:
“Work-based learning has always been part of the fabric of public higher education. At Framingham State, what is different now is that we are committed to ensuring that every student has access to a meaningful internship, co-op, or applied learning experience that complements their academic journey without delaying graduation. This initiative reflects what’s possible when higher education, businesses & non-profit organizations, and state leadership come together with a shared purpose. We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our partners in the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education for their leadership in advancing this work, and Framingham State is proud to be part of a statewide effort that will better prepare our students—and our workforce—for the future.”
 
MassArt President Mary Grant:
"We are delighted that MassArt is a part of the creative thinking around this co-op pilot program to expand opportunities for hands-on experiential learning for our students. We plan to engage our longtime partners and establish new partnerships to compliment an art and design education that prepares students for a lifetime of possibilities."