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Workforce Training and Continuing Education

Futures Commission | VPAPA

Workforce Training and Continuing Education Task Force

Task Force Co-facilitators David Pearson, Associate Professor, Behavioral Sciences Mr. Frank Feild, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Brownsville Chamber of Commerce. Task Force Staff Tony Zavaleta, Vice President for External Affairs Jim Holt, Dean for Workforce Training and Continuing Education

In the background, an artist's rendition of ITEC Campus. Photo by Jose Duarte

Executive Summary The mission of the Division of External Affairs is to coordinate and guide the relationship of internal UTB/TSC offices with external constituents; to develop new and enhance existing programs designed to serve the workforce needs of the institution's international service region and to serve as a community partner in the regional economic development team. In Sunday's Brownsville Herald, an article entitled, “NAFTA has been a victory for Texas, Rio Grande Valley economies.” Concludes that, “by every reasonable measure NAFTA has been a public policy success…it has spurred trade, investment, and economic integration in North America. And it has enhanced American productivity and prosperity.” This is one description of NAFTA at 10 years old. Our region has prospered but there is no guarantee that the same will be true when NAFTA is 20 years old. What role do UTB/TSC, and more specifically, Workforce Training and Continuing Education play in the future economic prosperity of our region? The Futures Commission's Workforce Training and Continuing Education Taskforce has asked this question and the following is an executive summary of its deliberations:     GOAL 1: WTCE SHOULD BE A FULL PARTNER IN THE FACILITATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL REGION IT SERVES.   WTCE TASKFORCE STRATEGIES: 1-Identify new and expanding markets for WTCE through the development of a regional economic development plan. •  The Cross-Border Institute for Regional Development (CBIRD) will conduct and disseminate research that generates data to guide and support the development of public policy in South Texas and to guide binational economic development with all collaborating public and private sector organizations, educational institutions and volunteer agencies. •  CBIRD will develop and implement a research agenda that is timely and addresses issues and concerns of mutual interest about economic development to all regional and binational stakeholders. 2. Promote small business and industry through the development of a comprehensive business retention and expansion plan. •  The Texas Border Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development (CEED) will assist in the development of relationships, linkages and programs that will facilitate the growth, retention, economic and market development of the small business base in the region and provide the services and technical assistance for the development of entrepreneurial business ventures in the cross-border economy. •  Develop strategies to expand opportunities for small business development through new markets, contracts, seminars and technical assistance. •  Create working partnerships and pursue multi-partner funding/grand opportunities to fund a regional business retention and expansion initiative. 3. CBIRD and CEED working in tandem will create a data clearinghouse and networking system at the ITECC for the development and support of business and industry. There is a need for the community to have an on-going community business and industry “checkup.” The community check-up would collect and maintain a reference base on developing demand occupations and opportunities. The ITECC could create and standardize support services needed for the recruitment and retention of new companies and jobs (marketing and selling the region).     GOAL 2: UTB/TSC SHOULD DEVELOP THE ITECC INTO A RECOGNIZED CENTER FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS WTCE TASKFORCE STRATEGIES: 1. Develop educational and training needs of the cross-border workforce in order to prepare the next-generation of regional workers. •  Develop workforce-training programs directed toward the tourism industry including hospitality, hotel and restaurant management. Developing industries include eco and heritage tourism. •  Develop Extension Programs through WTCE directed at providing opportunity for the “non-traditional” student for whom the main campus is not accessible. •  Recognized programs would capitalize on the bi-lingual and bi-cultural advantages of the region. •  The Language Institute would identify new markets and develop a new role as a partner in the workforce training team with specialty courses 2. On-going program development and training curriculum must be relevant and current. •  Identify new markets and special need programs where appropriate (Developing Technologies , Child Development and Elder Care). •  Identify training and continuing education needs for professions and jobs with specific licensing needs. 3. Develop barrier-free pathways from WTCE programs to academic programs including work to school and school to work opportunities. Develop an internal steering/advisory committee to help design and guide ITECC programs and to guarantee articulation with the main campus and to maximize credit transferability between certificate programs and the associate and bachelor's degree programs.     GOAL 3: WTCE SHOULD DEVELOP COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, COLLABORATIONS AND HIGH LEVELS OF STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION FOR ALL PROGRAMS WTCE TASKFORCE STRATEGIES: 1. Expand use and function of program advisory committees. Every Workforce Training program should be connected to community stakeholders, employers and relevant experts through the establishment of functioning advisory committees. 2. Develop community outreach and recruitment for WTCE. The community has great need for on-going workforce training programs that are relevant to the re-training and market needs of the population. 3. Develop functioning partnerships with the primary community agencies and organizations directly involved in the development of new jobs. WTCE should be a active partner in the development of a regional economic development plan and the recruitment of new companies and jobs to the region. GOAL 4: DEVELOP A BRAND FOR THE INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND COMMERCE CENTER (ITECC)   WTCE TASKFORCE STRATEGIES: 1. Create synergies between the International Innovation Center; the International Trade Center; the Technical Training Center; the flexible training space; and academic programs. 2. Develop support services such as banks, import/export services; small business development services. 3. Develop the ITECC infrastructure and surroundings The ITECC should be developed with an “adaptable” infrastructure which can accommodate ever changing technologies. The ITECC should have a physical “signature” which identifies it instantly with the main UTB/TSC campus. The ITECC should be a self-contained academic and training community providing all of the same services available on the main campus. The ITECC could serve as a model and catalyst for re-development of surrounding neighborhoods as well as the revitalization of the downtown. The ITECC should offer academic lower, upper, and graduate division classes as well as house UTB/TSC faculty offices in order to expand the learning environment, encourage WTCE students to aspire to enter associate and bachelor degree programs, and to develop the ITECC as a microcosm of the entire university.

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The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
80 Fort Brown | Brownsville, Texas 78520 | (956) 544-8200