Last week I spoke at the 2015 WVCCA / WVADE Joint Annual Conference hosted by BridgeValley Community and Technical College.
This year’s conference focused on three tracks of success—1) Student Success, 2) Institutional Success, and 3) Industry and Community Success – and those last two really struck a chord with me. I often have program directors ask me about the best way to go about establishing industry partnerships that are mutually beneficial for both the school and industry.
I wanted attendees to take away best practices for establishing a strong industry partnership program, including navigating the competitive bid process, securing resources, and addressing industry certifications. Here’s some advice I shared:
Invest in your staff.
Ultimately, your staff is your biggest resource. Instructors need to be up-to-date on the latest skills sets need to land new contracts. If a member of your team has specific industry experience relevant to a contract (and likely they do), make them front and center in your bid.
Work with local companies to ensure your instructors are certified when necessary so that that your students receive adequate training too.
Invest in your facility.
We all know the learning environment you create can be a huge selling point for attracting new students, but it’s also a key factor companies consider when looking at which school to partner with. Don’t be afraid to invite potential partners over and show off your impressive lab spaces. That’s your opportunity to show the “wow factor” of your program.
Make the Most of Your Resources.
If you would like to work with a particular local company but are unsure if you have the resources within your program, consider your options. Oftentimes companies will donate used equipment or funds to help schools get up and running with their training programs, especially if the demand for qualified employees is strong.
Also, don’t give up on opportunities you really want even if you’re not sure how to make it work. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is a perfect example of this.
The institution had over the years developed a great partnership with Mack/Volvo of Hagerstown, Maryland. When Mack put out a bid proposal for a 5-year Mechanical apprenticeship to be delivered at the plant, Blue Ridge CTC was interested but unfortunately did not have all the resources necessary to deliver all the courses Mack/Volvo desired (like basic welding, sheet metal fabrication, strength of materials).
Rather than give up, Blue Ridge reached out reached out to local school Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, which has a branch at the Hagerstown Airport, to see if they would also be interested. The two institutions teamed up and won the project. Training is now slated to begin in January 2016.
Ultimately, partnerships provide the opportunity to leverage the resources, assets, knowledge and expertise of industry so that educators can arm students with the skillsets they need to secure high-paying jobs.
To hear more about what I had to say at the WVCCA/WVADE Conference, check out my presentation below.
