Clark College Campus Tower , Vancouver , WA , USA
The higher education system of the region is anchored by Washington State University-Vancouver , which offers majors in business , computer science and engineering , as well as master ’ s and doctoral degrees . WSU- Vancouver has also developed the “ PACE ” ( Professional and Continuing Education ) program , offering working professional ’ s non-credit certificates in a variety of topics relevant to current industry needs .
Clark College is Southwest Washington ’ s oldest and largest public institution of higher education . As the largest workforce training provider in Southwest Washington , Clark College continually meets the needs of the business community and ensures that students are equipped with high-demand , relevant skills . Students can earn high school diplomas , GEDs , certificates , and degrees in a variety of programs including mechatronics .
Employers in the region partner closely with workforce development organizations , such as Workforce Southwest Washington ( workforcesw . org ), who develop , design , fund and administer investments to meet the specific workforce needs of the companies and people in Southwest Washington . Workforce Southwest Washington invested more than $ 126 million to improve the quality of the region ’ s workforce and support the growth of area businesses since their founding in 2002 . Partners in Careers ( partnersincareers . org ) is a nonprofit organization that strives to create self-sufficiency for youth , veterans , families and refugees . Partners in Careers connects job seekers to workforce skill trainings and jobs in partnership with local businesses . Companies in the region have worked successfully with Partners in Careers to deploy internships , “ flipped ” internships , and teacher externships , further supporting the region ’ s workforce and community needs .
Industry leaders in Southwest Washington continue to plan for future growth in high technology sectors , such as aerospace / aviation and the emergence of “ uncrewed systems .” The continuing collaboration and partnerships in the region are expected to benefit the overall economic prosperity of the state and sustain a high quality of work & life .
Jay . schmidt @ si-forest . com
PNAA ADVANCE / 2024
FEBRUARY | MARCH 2024 ISSUE NO . 37 101