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Workforce Programs
Training Tomorrow’s Workforce Today!
UA — Developing, Training and Sustaining Alaska’s Workforce
It’s an exciting time for people working – and those preparing to work – in Alaska. There are several large-scale projects, such as a natural gas pipeline and mining ventures, on the horizon. High-growth industries, such as health care, are in critical need of qualified employees. And the state is looking at the imminent retirement of many employees from the “baby boomer” generation. Combined, these factors present nearly limitless opportunities for Alaska workers, both now and in the future.
That’s the good news. The challenge Alaska is up against is providing enough trained, qualified workers to meet all the demand. As the largest, most comprehensive, post-secondary education and training institution in Alaska, the University of Alaska (UA) is uniquely poised to meet this challenge.
“UA offers programs from developmental preparatory classes, continuing education, career and technical training, professional development training, and degree programs from associate’s to post-doctoral. From drillers to doctors, certified nurses to certified engineers, and culinary arts to climate change, all these programs are relevant to the UA workforce development effort,” says Fred Villa, associate vice president for UA Workforce Programs.
These resources position UA as a major player in Alaska’s workforce development and training, which is a top priority for the university.
A Systematic Approach to Determining Workforce Needs
UA’s workforce development and training efforts are jointly led by UA Workforce Programs and UA Corporate Programs (UACP). Workforce Programs, which oversees UACP, works on a statewide level to anticipate the workforce needs of Alaska business and industry, then engages industry partners and UA programs to meet those needs. Meanwhile, UACP, which was launched in 1999, acts as the single point of contact for Alaska business and industry to access the university’s vast expertise and resources for continuing education and training.
The first step in the university’s effort is determining the current and future workforce needs in the state.
“We take a systematic approach to determining needs,” says Wendy Redman, vice president for University Relations at UA. “Workforce training programs are expensive to develop and, since tuition only covers a small portion of the cost, we need to be actively involved with industry leaders to be certain our programs are aligned with industry needs and that the curriculum is aligned with current industry standards.”
UA does this by partnering with industry consortia, such as the Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium, and by closely monitoring the Alaska Workforce Investment Board to see where high-growth areas are.
Preparing Students to be Trained
Once the university has identified areas of need, it takes a comprehensive approach to filling the need. Often the approach starts at the high school level – before a student even steps foot on a college campus.
“There’s a lot of focus on partnerships with schools – getting people ready to be trained. We’re working with the schools to begin focusing on basic skills,” says Redman, who offered the example of a student who wants to be heavy equipment operator needing to take college algebra.
The Tech Prep program at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) is just one example of the university’s partnership with schools. The program – which is a partnership between UAA, secondary school districts, Alaska Vocational Technical Center, Job Corps and other institutions – offers college credit to high school students who complete approved courses at partner institutions. More information on the program is available at www.uaa.alaska.edu/ctc/programs/techprep/index.cfm.
“Students receive technical and academic preparation in specific career fields and get a head start on a college degree or certificate,” Villa says.
Responding with Appropriate Programs
UA also responds to workforce needs by expanding existing programs or developing new ones. For example, in response to the ongoing shortage of nurses in Alaska, UAA’s School of Nursing expanded its nursing program in Anchorage and added two-year nursing programs in Fairbanks, Juneau, Kodiak, Bethel, Kenai, Ketchikan and Stika. The school anticipates it will more than double the number of nurses graduating this year.
The university also works closely with business and industry partners to develop programs to fit their needs. For example, the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Tanana Valley Campus and the UAA Community and Technical College recently established a new associate’s degree in construction management. The program, which was developed with input from local contractors and professional organizations, is designed to meet the high demand for skilled employees in the construction industry.
The university also recently approved two new workforce training tracks – the occupational endorsement and workforce credential – which create a framework for the different UA campuses to quickly respond to workforce needs in the communities they serve. When a need arises, the campus can create a credit or non-credit program, using new or existing classes, that requires fewer credits than a traditional certificate or associate’s degree. The program can then be pushed through an accelerated approval process. Students who successfully finish a program receive an official endorsement or credential.
Keeping Incumbent Workers Up-to-Date
Another important aspect of UA’s workforce effort is the continuing education and development opportunities offered to keep incumbent workers current in their jobs.
“Technology is changing so fast and people need to understand new and complex information all the time. The world is requiring more time be spent on training and upgrading training,” Redman says.
Through UACP, business and industry has access to training, continuing education, professional development, logistical support, research and nearly any other service required.
“The traditional education model is people come to us and play by our rules. But more and more, that model doesn’t work for business and industry. They need training continuously, during work time, and training that meets industry standards,” Redman says. “UACP is very entrepreneurial. They don’t say ‘we don’t do that.’ UACP’s answer is ‘We’ll figure out how the university can do it or we’ll find someone who can.’”
UACP’s partnership with the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is just one example of how the university meets the diverse needs of business and industry in Alaska.
Through the partnership, the university provides logistical support for training, which includes keeping records, coordinating training locations, and setting up audio-visual equipment. UACP is also available to develop new training or present existing training on required topics, and has been involved in several research projects, such as a survey to assess the transportation-related training needs for local governments.
For more information on UA’s workforce development and training, please contact UACP at www.alaska.edu/uacp, 907.786.1531 or corporateprograms@alaska.edu.
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