A program at Macomb Community College to return laid-off or unemployed designers to the workplace has received the Outstanding Corporate Training Project Award from the Michigan Association of Continuing Education and Training, a statewide consortium of community colleges with a mission to lead the transformation and integration of workforce development, economic development, continuing education and community services in Michigan.
Designers Helping Designers was launched in January 2010 at Macomb in collaboration with the American Society for Body Engineers Foundation, the Macomb/St. Clair Workforce Development Board and Talascend, a technical resource firm. The program, which has retrained nearly 200 to date, utilizes the knowledge and expertise of those working in the field to provide unemployed designers the opportunity to update, practice, maintain and strengthen their skills using industry-specific software applications.
The 64-hour training program, currently offered at Macomb’s South Campus in Warren, includes non-credit and credit courses, the latter of which can be applied toward an associate degree. Eligibility for the program requires at least five years of experience in the automotive industry including the use of either CATIA or UG software.
“With an overall placement rate of 76 percent, the Designers Helping Designers program is proving how well the collaborative approach works in meeting both industry and individual needs by returning highly skilled individuals back to the workforce and well-paying jobs,” said Holger Ekanger, Macomb’s director of workforce and continuing education - engineering and advanced technology. “This award is confirmation from our community college peers that our program is a perfect example of how to integrate both credit and non-credit components into a worker retraining program.”
While the first seven classes of Designers Helping Designers were held at Macomb, the program is now offered on rotation with partnering community colleges. The ninth class of Designers Helping Designers is tentatively scheduled to begin Sept. 19 at Mott Community College in Flint, and the 10th class Oct. 24 at either Macomb or Oakland Community College. For more information about enrolling contact John Frey, program coordinator, at 586.549.7264 or workforcedev@macomb.edu.
About Macomb Community College
Macomb Community College (www.macomb.edu) is one of the nation’s leading community colleges, providing learning experiences to more than 48,000 students annually. Macomb nationally ranks in the top two percent in the number of associate degrees awarded and as the largest grantor of associate degrees in Michigan. The college’s comprehensive educational programming includes pre-collegiate experiences, university transfer and career preparation programs, bachelor degree completion and graduate degree programs, workforce training, professional education and certification, and continuing education and enrichment opportunities.
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