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University, AVTEC to sign maritime training agreement with Yamaha Motor Corporation
Aug. 15, 2022
No. 22-11
JUNEAU, Alaska — The Alaska Maritime Education Consortium (AMEC) and Yamaha Motor Corporation announce a unique partnership to expand maritime training in Alaska. University of Alaska, Alaska Vocational Education Center (AVTEC) and Yamaha will sign a contract at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 17, 2022, at the Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna.
"Alaska has more coastline than all of other 49 states combined, making the maritime sector one of the great growth industries in our state," said Gov. Mike Dunleavy. "I look forward to Alaskans reaping the benefits of this unique partnership with Yamaha."
The agreement will be signed by University of Alaska President Pat Pitney, Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Dr. Tamika L. Ledbetter and Yamaha U.S. Maritime Business President Ben Speciale. Gov. Dunleavy will be present and will address attendees.
The partnership will make available Yamaha training curriculum, and will allow AMEC to acquire training materials at or below cost, including engines and tools. Yamaha will also train the trainers.
"The collaboration between AMEC and Yamaha U.S. will significantly expand training in marine engine repair and maritime education in general," Ledbetter said.
Reports
The University of Alaska Fisheries, Seafood and Maritime Initiative and the industry-led group, Maritime Works, regularly collaborate to advance maritime workforce development in Alaska. The status and outcomes of their work are captured in the following reports.
Read the latest update:
UA FSMI Annual Report - May 2020
UA FSMI Annual Report - January 2019
UA FSMI Spring Update - May 2018
UA FSMI Annual Report - December 2017
Outreach Activities
Alaska Association of Career and Technical Education Conference, October 2018
Alaska Safety Alliance (ASA), who coordinates the industry efforts of Maritime Works, collaborated with subject matter experts from the three FSMI Working Groups to develop marketing resources to enhance career awareness of the 23 priority occupations identified in the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan. Once the resources were developed, ASA in partnership with UA and industry presented at the Alaska Association of Career and Technical Education Conference in October 2018 to secondary and postsecondary providers who can utilize the resources with their students to expand awareness of these great career opportunities across the state of Alaska. The presentation can be found here.
Shared Quarters - National Maritime Workforce Conference, June 2018
An Alaska delegation of FSMI representatives, and training and industry partners attended the Shared Quarters - National Maritime Workforce Conference June 5-6, 2018. The conference, hosted by San Jacinto College Maritime Campus and Texas A&M Maritime Academy, sought to address opportunities to enhance and expand maritime, marine technology and port management workforce training taking place at two-year public colleges throughout the country. The conference was coordinated to specifically respond to the enactment in December 2017 of legislation authorizing the designation of community and technical colleges as Domestic Maritime Centers of Excellence. A presentation highlighting UA FSMI activities, maritime training across the state of Alaska, and industry partnership outcomes can be found here.
University Economic Development Association Presentation, October 2017
On October 2, 2017, UA Associate Vice President and FSMI Co-Chair Fred Villa presented at the University Economic Development Association (UEDA) Awards of Excellence on the outcomes of collaboration between UA FSMI and the industry-led working group, Maritime Works, that resulted in the Alaska Maritime Workforce Development Plan. The project was runner-up for the UEDA Talent Award. The presentation can be found here.