{"id":27,"date":"2021-09-20T20:58:06","date_gmt":"2021-09-20T20:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dvc.mycareerfocus.org\/winter-2021-volume-4-issue-2\/putting-the-hire-in-higher-education\/"},"modified":"2021-12-16T16:53:52","modified_gmt":"2021-12-16T16:53:52","slug":"industry-partnerships-lead-to-fast-track-careers-in-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dvc.mycareerfocus.org\/winter-2021-volume-4-issue-2\/industry-partnerships-lead-to-fast-track-careers-in-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Industry Partnerships Lead to Fast-Track Careers in Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brandon Manzanares graduated from DVC with an associate in science in allied health. After spending some time working in the medical field, he felt he wanted to explore other career options.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have always had an interest in computer science, engineering and robotics, so I decided to go back to school,\u201d said Manzanares.<\/span><\/p>\n

Manzanares was particularly interested in the Tesla Manufacturing Development Program.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat impressed me the most about the Tesla program was that I would be a full-time employee at Tesla with benefits, while also being able to go to school and earn a certificate that will help me within the company,\u201d said Manzanares.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Brandon

DVC student and Tesla production assistant Brandon Manzanares outside the Tesla facility. Photo courtesy of Brandon Manzanares.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Manzanares is a production assistant at Tesla. He is just one of many Tesla employees who are enrolled at DVC while working full-time for the company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur partnership stems from the fact that TESLA needs to train their employees and they need to hire a new workforce,\u201d said Manuel Covarrubias, assistant professor and area lead for the electricity\/electronics\/energy systems programs at DVC.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to the partnership with DVC, TESLA had been training their employees through their internal program, TESLA University.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey came to realize that it is better to have their workforce be trained at a college like DVC because that is what we are good at – training and teaching. TESLA doesn\u2019t need to build any new facilities or create curriculum. We have the curriculum and we can work with TESLA to tweak it to meet their needs,\u201d said Covarrubias.<\/span><\/p>\n

The partnership with Tesla was critical to the revitalization of DVC machining and manufacturing programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe realized we were dealing with a generation of students who were not provided with hands-on shop classes in California high schools. As we began to write our new robotics program, Tesla\u2019s training team provided guidance and insight. We then worked closely with our advisory board to ensure we would also meet the demands of our other industry partners,\u201d said Jeffrey Smith, program lead for industrial design, robotics and advanced manufacturing at DVC.<\/span><\/p>\n

Manzanares is looking forward to building his skills and his career through the Tesla Manufacturing Development Program (MDP).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs part of the Tesla MDP, I am working towards a certificate of achievement in industrial automation and robotics at DVC. I may pursue a certificate or degree in computer science as well. I plan to continue working at Tesla after completing the program. I\u2019m looking forward to moving into the maintenance team and utilizing what I will learn here at DVC. There are many opportunities for growth within Tesla,\u201d said Manzanares.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tesla is just one of several employers who partner with DVC.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have such a diversity of leading companies in the Bay Area as partners. We work closely with Benchmark Electronics, Marathon Petroleum, Autodesk, and Tesla. These powerhouse companies are involved in steering our program to ensure that we are meeting the demands of industry, while also giving our students a solid academic foundation,\u201d said Smith.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMarathon Petroleum\u2019s partnership with DVC includes funding vocational education and provides opportunities to help shape DVC\u2019s career technical education curriculum to ensure it is current and relevant to our industry and the jobs of tomorrow,\u201d said Nichol Carranza, community investments representative for Marathon Petroleum.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smith feels fortunate to have gained such strong support from Marathon\u2019s engineering team.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Marathon

Support from Marathon Petroleum enabled DVC to purchase this CNC machine for DVC’s advanced manufacturing and machining programs. Photo courtesy of Marathon Petroleum.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThey saw value in the types of students we are producing. Over the past few years, they have significantly invested in our engineering technology program. Because of this generosity, we were able to purchase a new computer numeric control (CNC) machine with a 5-axis milling table for our advanced manufacturing and machining programs,\u201d said Smith.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to providing financial support to DVC, Marathon Petroleum is a valued member of the DVC engineering technology advisory committee. Marathon employees have also served as guest speakers for DVC classes, and have given tours of of their facility to <\/span>
\nDVC students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are grateful to have a community partner like DVC that provides specialized training in technical education. Marathon\u2019s success relies on its ability to recruit and retain employees with those skills. Our investments at DVC align with our priorities to support vocational education and thriving communities,\u201d said Carranza.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DVC students who complete the industrial maintenance machinist\/mechanic (mTECH) certificate of achievement will have the skills needed to appeal to employers like Marathon Petroleum.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFuture employees will have the opportunity to work on renewable fuels and to be part of the effort to achieve California\u2019s climate goals. DVC\u2019s associate in science degree and its certificates in machine technology (mTech) help prepare students for the types of careers available in the evolving energy industry,\u201d said Carranza.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The industry partnerships forged by DVC are crucial – not only for students, but also for workforce investment throughout the region.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIndustry partnerships help ensure DVC students are working on cutting-edge technologies and gaining practical experience. We know that some problems can\u2019t be solved in isolation in a lab or classroom. Industry feedback is key in sparking innovation whether it be in re-energizing our curriculum, adding facilities and equipment, or taking an invention or product from concept to market. Companies who may not have the time themselves to incubate ideas are vying for graduates who have the pulse on emerging markets,\u201d said Covarrubias.<\/span><\/p>\n

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT<\/span><\/h2>\n

<\/h3>\n

Certificate of achievement – industrial automation and robotics\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n