Workforce Development, Skills Development, SolidWorks Job-Ready

When I taught SolidWorks at Mass Bay Community College it was all about workforce development, simply helping students get the skills they need to get a good job. Students in my class averaged 36 years old ranging from 18 to 62. Many were part of the state’s retraining program for displaced workers. Hosting the New England SolidWorks Users Group became important for my students to learn about what the technology companies were using and how good your SolidWorks skills need to be.

So when I heard National Public Radio NPR address yesterday stating that President Obama signed a new law, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, with overwhelming support from the House and Senate, I shouted out loud in morning traffic. The Skills training bill was started 11 years ago. U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, a North Carolina Republican and a former community college president, was instrumental in writing the new law, “Job training is so yesterday,” said Rep. Fox. “Workforce development and skills development is tomorrow.”

Education is life long learning. I tell students you always have to learn new skills and learn new skills with SolidWorks. You need to get SolidWorks certified. This is the world we live in.

The NPR report talks about NH’s workforce development program that targets the long-term unemployed and pays up to 90 percent of the employee’s salary while a company trains him or her to fill an opening. Brian Alexander, a design engineer had 40 years experience. Thanks to SolidWorks customer XMA Corporation, Brian updated his skills with SolidWorks and now is working as an engineer at XMA.

You just have to be laid off once or know someone who has been laid off to understand how important the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is to engineers and all workers. Marie

Bio
Twitter
Latest Posts

Marie Planchard

Senior Director, Early Engagement, 3DEXPERIENCE Works at Dassault Systemes

Marie Planchard is an education and engineering advocate. As Senior Director of Education & Early Engagement, SOLIDWORKS, she is responsible for global development of content and social outreach for the 3DEXPERIENCE Works products across all levels of learning including educational institutions, Fab Labs, and entrepreneurship.