Schools
Workforce Partnership, UCSD To Introduce Education Program Cohort
The program allows unemployed or underemployed people to take classes on in-demand job skills and pay for them once they're employed.
LA JOLLA, CA — The San Diego Workforce Partnership and UC San Diego Extension will introduce the first cohort Wednesday of a program that allows unemployed or underemployed people to take classes on in-demand job skills and pay for them once they're employed.
The Workforce Income Share Agreement Fund is intended to get rid of financial barriers that may keep unemployed or underemployed people from advancing to an in-demand field in which they may thrive. The program's first cohort is composed of 100 people and funded by grants from Google, Strada Education Network and the James Irvine Foundation.
"For too many students and workers in the San Diego region, the cost of education poses a barrier that can prevent them from pursuing opportunities for social and economic mobility," said San Diego Workforce Partnership COO Andy Hall. "This is about creating a new, sustainable model of workforce development that can connect individuals with new career pathways -- and help employers address pressing tech talent shortages"
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The program will cover up-front tuition for classes at the UCSD Extension that award certificates for skills like Java programming. Once program participants find a job in their chosen field with an annual salary above $40,000, they repay tuition costs on an income-based payment plan to ensure participants aren't stuck paying off debt in times of hardship.
According to the San Diego Workforce Partnership, the goal of the program is to grow to 200 students by next year.
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"It's time for employers, education providers, and individuals to start preparing for a world where lifelong learning is an economic imperative," said Josh Shapiro, a director of research and evaluation at the UCSD Extension. "Our goal is to ensure that every student and worker in San Diego can access a world-class education coupled with the support and guidance that will help them succeed in the workforce."
The San Diego Workforce Partnership and UCSD Extension will host a breakfast event Wednesday morning to introduce the program's first students and allow them to discuss how it will benefit their careers.
– City News Service
