Earlier this month, Commonwealth University announced the launch of a partnership with Google for a public-private partnership enabling our students to earn industry-recognized certificates during their regular undergraduate degree programs. The program will prepare students for careers in the fields of cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing/e-commerce, business intelligence, IT support, project management, and user experience (UX) design.
Partnerships like this continue our foundational mission to
expand the opportunities available to both our students and the people in the
communities our campuses call home. Inaccessibility to education often stands
as a barrier for individuals looking to upskill and reskill and earn relevant
credentials that today’s employers need. I am pleased that this program will
address the critical access issue in a way that offers real-world skills in the
most relevant and rapidly growing fields.
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| Cynthia Shapira, PASSHE Board of Governors chairwoman |
Google developed its Google Career Certificates specifically
for in-demand fields. Numerous Pennsylvania-based companies are part of Google’s
employer consortium, including Bayer, CMI Media Group, SAP, Expedient, and The
Project Management Institute. Other employer consortium members include
Deloitte, Walmart, Verizon, and, of course, Google. All provide input
into the skills and competencies their employees need, and those are
incorporated into the training.
Most
university students work to pay for their education while in college. These
credentials help students start jobs while still in school. The training
can be offered through workforce development on a non-credit basis. Certificate
programs offer more options and opportunities to earn skills and acquire
education. Earning certificates can help
people enter high-growth jobs and continue earning more advanced credentials or
enroll in the university to pursue associate and bachelor’s degrees. When
paired with a degree, certificates add value and often increase entry-level
salaries.
So far in the U.S., more than 200,000 people have graduated
from Google’s program. Of those, the vast majority have reported a positive
career impact such as higher pay, a promotion, or a new job. Earning
certificates in high-demand fields adds value to a degree. A study done in 2022
by Strada Outcomes Survey showed that history majors who acquire data analysis
skills increase their entry-level salary by 38%. Sociology majors who acquire
UX/UI design skills increase their entry-level salary by 32%.
These results are why we are so eager to provide this
opportunity to our students. By embracing a student-first mentality and collaborating
with employers to bring initiatives like the Google partnership to Commonwealth
University, we’re positioning our students for success in a rapidly evolving economic
landscape.
In addition to the Google Career Certificates, Commonwealth
University is pursuing many other workforce development initiatives across the
region. We have teamed up with Thrive International and UPMC to offer free courses
in English as a Second Language (ESL) at our Lock Haven location. Removing the
language barrier is the first step that unlocks the promise of education for
many students, as it did for me. This leads to employment and enables degrees. Our
evening classes are reaching some 50 area students. In the spring, Commonwealth
U students in our ESL certificate program will volunteer as part of their field
experience.
We have partnered with Career and Technology Centers across
the region to form 15 articulation agreements for career and educational
pathways into Commonwealth U’s Criminal Justice and Early Childhood Education
programs. This fall we are welcoming new students in these two areas. With
the success of this program, we are working toward additional pathways in
business. Over the past year, our Public
Safety Training Institute has grown the total number of training and contact
hours by more than 70%.
I am excited about the work taking place in Workforce
Development and what it means for our students and our communities. When we
work together to find opportunities and entry points to education that make
learning accessible, we improve the lives of those around us and help to ensure
a more vibrant living, learning, and working environment.
Read more about the Google Partnership here: https://www.commonwealthu.edu/news/commonwealth-university-launch-partnership-google
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