The Division of Academic Outreach at UCA, in collaboration with the UCA College of Business, is currently facilitating a Pre-Employment Training Program for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC). The Academic Outreach Center for Training and Consulting Services provides this training for the new Hewlett Packard (HP) Conway Facility. The HP training curriculum, developed by College of Business faculty members, consists of an overview of the company and technical aptitude skills required of all HP employees.
“UCA has been a great business partner” said Julie Palmason, Sales Programs Manager at HP. “From the beginning of this program, they have provided creative ideas on how to best teach and assess students on some very specific skills. Once the program started, we needed to make a few changes to the curriculum. UCA was very flexible, and again offered suggestions on how to adjust the agenda. We could not be more happy with the outcome.”
Maria Haley, executive director of the AEDC, said the training and education of our workforce is vital to our economic future.
“Companies locate where people can be effectively trained for the jobs they create. This is why education and training is a priority for our state,” said Haley. “This partnership between AEDC and UCA is a perfect example of the type of collaboration needed to make certain our businesses are well served.”Dr. Leonard Seawood, Dean of Academic Outreach at UCA, states that “the importance of educating and training our workforce is more important now than ever before. We are very honored to be the University of choice to provide training services to the world’s largest technology company.”
As a result of this partnership, UCA has had the opportunity to collaborate with various state agencies such as the Conway Department of Workforce Services and Conway Adult Education. UCA receives accolades applauding its smooth operation of the training project and its willingness to partner and cooperate with other state agencies.
