Page 40 - BusinessWest October 3, 2022

Plugged in to Opportunity
HCC, STCC Partner with Upright to Expand Access to Tech Jobs
By Kailey Houle
Christina Royal says community colleges are leaders in workforce development — and that’s why a new partnership between Holyoke Community College (HCC), Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), and Upright Education makes so
much sense.
“Our focus is on how we are able to bring education and training to the area and to be able to serve the employer needs in the region.”
“Our focus is on how we are able to bring education and training to the area and to be able to serve the employer needs in the region,” said Royal, president of HCC. “We are specifically about educating individuals who would stay here and work here and be able to lift up our com- munities, as opposed to institutions with various other missions.”
The two community colleges are in the pro- cess of starting a technical program for those
with a sparked interest in the technological field. Upright Education is a partner for universities and community colleges to add programs that train workers and adult learners for direct entry into the workforce, specif- ically in technology fields.
The programs boast an accelerated, inten- sive focus on specific job training for the techno- logical workforce, ranging from 12 weeks for full- time learners to 24 weeks for part-time learners.
Participants are able to
choose from an ignition
course, an introductory
prep course that helps
determine if the boot-
camp programs are right for them. Students also get the opportunity to meet with an in-house career coach who helps them identify, early in their bootcamp training, the types of jobs and settings that most interest them.
Staff Photo
From left, STCC Assistant Vice President of Workforce Development Gladys Franco, STCC President John Cook, Upright CEO Benny Boas, HCC President Christina Royal, and HCC Vice President for Business and Community Jeffrey Hayden.
New Look
Same Great Music
40 OCTOBER 3, 2022
TECHNOLOGY
BusinessWest