Macomb Community College's Workforce Development Institute (WDI) has been awarded the 2006-2007 Special Project Award by the Michigan Association of Continuing Education and Training (MACET). The award recognizes an outstanding educational service project that significantly advances the continuing development of the profession.

"This award is representative of the quality of service the WDI's staff gives to all employers," said Victoria Corriveau, director of Macomb's WDI. "We work with employers to gain an understanding of what they need, so that we are able to quickly develop an appropriate training program in a highly creative, effective way to achieve the results the employer expects."

The award was presented in recognition of a partnership between Macomb's WDI and the General Motors CCRW (Conveyors, Controls, Robotics and Welding) group for the training and skills certification of GM engineers and their key engineering suppliers. While CCRW has standards in place for knowledge and skills required for their employees and for their suppliers, they had no way to verify the employees' application of knowledge and skills.

After working with CCRW and their suppliers to identify key core knowledge and skill requirements, a global training curriculum was developed that eliminated duplicate training, reduced training days from 41 to 24 and reduced the cost of training by more than $116,000. Training began in January 2005, with more than 2,200 engineers trained and/or certified to date.

Macomb Community College's Workforce Development Institute (WDI), located at the college's Michigan Technical Education Center (M-TECSM), provides comprehensive training programs to address workplace challenges.

Media Contact: Karen M. LeDuc
Phone: 586.445.7271