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星期四, 10月 09, 2014

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION JOINS U.S. LABOR SECRETARY PEREZ AND U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY DUNCAN TO PROMOTE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES UNDERWAY IN MASSACHUSETTS

PATRICK ADMINISTRATION JOINS U.S. LABOR SECRETARY PEREZ AND U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY DUNCAN TO PROMOTE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES UNDERWAY IN MASSACHUSETTS
Commonwealth celebrated as national model in aligning educational programs with employer workforce needs 
SPRINGFIELD – Wednesday, October 8, 2014 –Patrick Administration officials today joined U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) to recognize the Commonwealth’s leadership in developing a robust workforce pipeline to meet the needs of employers across Massachusetts.  

During today’s visit, Secretaries Perez and Duncan highlighted two rounds of grants, totaling $40 million, awarded to Massachusetts community colleges by the U.S. Department of Labor to further the Administration’s efforts to align educational programs at our community colleges with the needs of local employers. 

“Working together, we have strengthened the connections between our campuses, our employers and our workforce so that each and every one of our students has the opportunity to thrive,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “Community colleges are a critical asset in our strategy to develop a middle-skills workforce for jobs in demand. I’m proud Secretary Perez and Secretary Duncan have recognized our successful model.”

The consortium of Massachusetts community colleges awarded in these two grant rounds has drawn national attention for building systems between community colleges, adult basic education programs and workforce development partners and industry leaders to offer students more training and education programs that better reflect the needs of local industry.   To date, 151 degree and certificate programs have been developed or redesigned for accelerated learning and credentials for 40 programs have been made stackable for more comprehensive certification of skills. Among students who go through these programs, 70 percent attained employment while 85 percent completed online credit hours. 

The latest round of federal funding received by the Massachusetts consortium will focus on reducing the time it takes students to complete certificate and degree programs that lead to careers in high-growth STEM sectors (science, technology, engineering and math) as well as advanced manufacturing and health care.

“This type of collaborative effort between our community colleges and our local businesses bridges career and education, allowing the Commonwealth to lead the nation in career development,” said Secretary of Education Matthew Malone. “This vital combination of skills will give our students the competitive edge they will need to succeed in the global workforce.”
“The advanced training programs at our community colleges are another example of how Massachusetts is leading the nation in innovation,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. “Building a talented workforce is how we will compete and succeed in the 21st century.” 
“This collaborative approach in workforce training led to the deployment of new data tools to analyze employer job openings in a region,” said Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian.  “This information provides critical insight for colleges, boards, career centers and partners on hiring trends, employer skill needs, and the actual names of employers with job openings.  For the first time, these institutions have direct access to critical hiring trends.”
In 2012, Governor Deval Patrick launched his landmark reform to the community college systems to address the skills gap and expand employment opportunities for workers across the state. By aligning a unified community college system with employers, vocational-technical schools and Workforce Investment Boards, Governor Patrick has made workforce partnerships among the community colleges a key component of his efforts to help people get back to work.

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