HCC receives $517,652 from TWC to upgrade Schlumberger employee skills
May 1, 2015
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) presented Houston Community College (HCC) with a check for $517,652 to provide customized technical training for Schlumberger employees.
The Texas Workforce Skills Development Grant will allow for 417 new and existing Schlumberger employees to upgrade their skills, continuing a successful partnership that is already showing great results. Upgrading workforce skills in the Energy sector has become even more critical this year. HCC Corporate College is already providing training for Schlumberger on many subjects including Accounting, Project Management, Microsoft Office Applications, Hydraulics, IT Certifications, Workplace English and Spanish.
Eduardo Campos, a student from the Project Management Class, commented after passing the grueling PMP Exam. “I just wanted to say thanks for the valuable information you provided. It helped me meet my certification objective. The training was awesome. You made it so easy to understand.”
“This project has assisted HCC in creating new curriculum, training faculty to deliver this curriculum and expanding the college’s training capacity,” said Dr. Cesar Maldonado, HCC chancellor.
Andres Alcantar, TWC chairman was on hand for the presentation. He said, “We are proud as a state to lead the country in job creation this century; we are a beacon in the downtime across this country. Thanks to you, HCC, for helping to make us the great state we are. We count on the support of community colleges to help companies remain competitive and provide skill training for workers to maintain and train for meaningful jobs.”
Since the mid-1990s the skills Development Fund has supported valuable programs and offered great support to community colleges as they deliver significant training that is customized to the individual skills needed for success within various industries. TWC also has strategies in place to support community colleges as they build effective pathways such as Early College and dropout recovery strategies at the high school level.
“Training and development is near and dear to me,” said, Andrea Shaffer, North American Human Resources Manager at Schlumberger. “HCC has provided 19 courses since January and we are very happy with the program that has been put together and funded by the Texas Workforce Commission. We are hopeful for an extension to receive another check and provide more courses.”
“I am delighted to sign this check today so new and incumbent workers at Schlumberger can be trained and prepared for the workforce by Houston Community College,” said Alcantar. “I love coming to Houston and developing relationships with leaders such as Dr. Maldonado who really care about the mission and who are charged to address important issues.”
For more information on how business can secure funding for skills development training, contact Jennifer K. Holmes, director, HCC Corporate College at Jennifer.holmes2@hccs.edu.