It's not your father's workplace any more---or your mother's.
To succeed today takes a lot more education and training, even if its not a college degree.
The tri-state is looking to fill a shortage of technical trained workers.
CLAUDE RAMSEY, DEPUTY GOVERNOR "Well, the message is this. We want to encourage companies to work with universities, community colleges..to further education for people who are already employed..give them more opportunity."
The deputy governor, who gets much of the credit for bringing Volkswagen to Enterprise South, was back home to take part in a Region Business Learning Summit. He has pushed education and technical training programs for years...long before the new high-tech plants like V-W, Alstom and Wacker arrived on the scene.
CLAUSE RAMSEY, DEPUTY GOVERNOR "We're asking universities to be flexible, to be creative."
Chattanooga State began tailoring programs early on for specific organizations like Wacker, TVA, V-W and Alstom.
EVA LEWIS, CHATTANOOGA STATE, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT "I think the demand has increased, because of the kind of companies moving back into our area...more emphasis on high technology or manufacturing."
The experts say the focus is changing, as it seeks to open doors by allowing workers and students to count their life experiences toward a degree. Also, in-house training.
EVA LEWIS "Talk to business and industry about supporting, educating of their own workforce, with education benefits."
UTC will consider experiencial learning to count toward a degree, but only electives for now.
JOCELYN SANDERS, UTC ASSOCIATE PROVOST "We are looking at that, we're going to take the task force recommendations and look at them very closely as we modify our general education core and see what makes sense."
Job training experts say improving credential attainment and investing in employee training, especially by industry, results in more growth and an improved bottom line.
Ms. Sanders says UTC, like Chattanooga State, is tailoring some courses to meet technical requirements, but also keeping its emphasis on the humanities.
