FAME’s First Study Abroad Trip Makes Tennessee History
A leading regional FAME chapter, TN FAME Tri-Star, made history this March, piloting the first manufacturing-focused study abroad program in Tennessee. Their 10-day trip to Australia helped FAME students gain critical perspectives while closing the gap of technical student participation in study abroad.
How it happened: The trip took root when Greater Jackson Chamber leadership planted the idea of an exchange program following a tour of Jackson State Community College’s (JSCC) AMT labs by an Australian manufacturer. Dr. Liz Thompson, Global Learning Coordinator at JSCC, made this a reality, securing grant funding for a manufacturing-focused study abroad trip to Australia—the first of its kind for any technical or advanced manufacturing program in Tennessee.
- After a year of planning, 12 second-year FAME AMTs were selected for the spring break trip, earning academic credit through their capstone course.
- Dr. Thompson specifically chose FAME students to pilot the program, confident that their group dynamics and professionalism would ensure success.
Why it matters: Manufacturing and supply chains are among the most globalized industries, making intercultural communication a critical skill for the advanced roles FAME prepares students for. Yet less than 2% of American students who studied abroad in the 2023-2024 school year came from community colleges, largely due to lack of relevant programs.
- This program helps close that gap, creating experiential learning opportunities that strengthen the industry. FAME students being chosen to pilot it speaks to the quality of the model and the students it produces.
- “In manufacturing, we work with everybody,” said Cathi Roberts, TN Tri-Star FAME Success Coach and Program Coordinator. “[Studying abroad is] important for opening the mind and the acceptance of others.”
The trip: One of the first stops for the FAME AMTs was Wollongong, a coastal city known for heavy industry, for facility tours of Australian manufacturers Green Gravity and BlueScope. Students had visited BlueScope’s Jackson facility before the trip, giving them a unique opportunity to compare the company’s operations in the United States and Australia firsthand.
- Students then visited iAccelerate, a local startup incubator, where they learned how local entrepreneurs launch manufacturing companies.
- They put their FAME skills to use during tea with the Lord Mayor of Wollongong, where they demonstrated the professional behaviors that are central to the program.
The years ahead: Building on this trip’s success, TN Tri-Star FAME and JSCC’s Global Learning are planning another Australia trip, with hopes to eventually expand to other countries. Inspired by a local Toyota manufacturing presence in Jackson, TN, the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce has floated the idea of a study abroad trip to Japan.
- Future opportunities will be open to all JSCC manufacturing students, thanks to the example set by FAME.
Paving the way: TN FAME Tri-Star shows what’s possible when workforce programs think beyond borders. The cohort’s success abroad came from skills FAME builds at home, opening doors for future FAME chapters to follow the same path.
- “This cohort’s journey to Australia showcases exactly what FAME builds—students who excel in technical mastery, professional behaviors and teamwork,” said Tony Davis, National Director of FAME USA. “It’s not just a personal milestone; it’s a testament to how prepared they are for a global manufacturing landscape.”
