Partnership bridges soft-skill development gap

DISPUTANTA — A Prince George County-based public junior college has partnered together with a research-based coalition of academic institutions and industrial manufacturing companies in the Old Dominion to create an Advanced Manufacturing Academy.

The newly-established academy will train students who are pursuing careers in the high-demand fields of robotics and automation. Programming will complement Virginia’s tech talent pipeline by preparing graduates for high-paying technology related jobs in areas that align with traded-sector growth opportunities.

It is a forward-focused initiative addressing both economic as well as workforce necessities through the Southside Virginia region and the whole state, and it will serve as a pathway for students to earn certificates and degrees which lead to high-paying jobs.

Presidents of both Richard Bland College (RBC) and the Commonwealth Center for Advanced Manufacturing (CCAM) signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday

“I do want to take a moment before we start our workshop to introduce an activity that we have here for you tonight: we have a memorandum of understanding between RBC and CCAM on workforce education that we are going to talk about,” said Lorin Sodell, who is the business process lead for CCAM.

RBC President Debbie Sydow recognized both the community college and the research-based collaboration for their hard work and their diligence in bringing this agreement to fruition.

“You know it’s all about the people who are really working behind the scenes to bring us to this kind of partnership point,” Sydow said before the signing of the memorandum of understanding.

“I’d like to express sincere appreciation to CCAM President and CEO Will Powers, to CCAM business leader for machining and factory development Lorin Sodell, to CCAM Development Director Betsey Odell, to Richard Bland Chief Development Officer Dr. Tyler Hart, RBC Director of Government Relations and Communications Joanne Williams and RBC Program Manager Stacey Sokol,” she emphasized.

RBC’s president mentioned Wednesday night that what the partnership is really doing, is responding to the goals of Governor Ralph S. Northam and the 2020 Virginia General Assembly.

“They are focused on building a world class workforce here in the commonwealth — Richard Bland and CCAM are partnering to establish an RBC–CCAM Advanced Manufacturing Academy,” Sydow explained.

She pointed out how this innovative and hands-on program is going to include apprenticeships, internships and job-shadowing opportunities and courses that are going to bridge the gap in the development of soft skills and how these components of the program are going to be beneficial and important to both parties in the partnership.

“We talk so much about the importance of soft skills and this is really a focal point of this agreement as well,” she said, explaining how they’ve formed an academic pathway that’s going to enable graduates to have the necessary training and credentials to easily connect with Virginia businesses and industry to find both living-wage and high-paying jobs in these areas “that are so important for the advancement of the commonwealth and [its] economy.”

“So, in summary, this partnership is really about helping to secure the American dream and we really care about that for thee members of our community; it’s about making sure more Virginians have access to the American dream, so RBC and CCAM have banded together to build educational opportunities, affordable pathways for citizens of the commonwealth and really around the world,” Sydow concluded.

Echoing that same appreciation towards both teams for their hard work in bringing both parties to this point and to the future of this partnership, CCAM’s president and CEO William T. Powers III stated he is delighted to have RBC as part of the other universities which have made this venture a successful one.

“I tell everybody [that] when you glorify the past, the future drives up — automation and robotics is very much the future and it will be critical to the success of not just this Prince George County and the commonwealth, but also the nation in general — so, what we’re doing matters,” Powers said.

“I think it’s quite exciting and I look forward to working with everybody,” he said, explaining further that he thinks what the partnership will bring to the commonwealth will be very tangible.

This academy will provide students with access to industry-driven, cutting-edge curricula, that will collectively enhance the ecosystem of advanced manufacturing. Through this innovative and experiential learning program, students will be able to gain both training and credentials in high-tech occupations.

It is modeled in a fashion that enables students to earn while they learn, which combines together virtual instruction with a structured classroom education. Program development will offer stackable credits from dual enrollment to industry certificates, a career studies certification, associate degrees as well as partnerships with four-year universities for advanced degrees.

Logan Barry can be reached at lbarry@progress-index.com. On Twitter: @LBarryPI.