National Energy Association Partners With Rowan University, RCBC

Rowan University and Rowan College at Burlington County will serve as the academic partner for a national energy association, the university announced last week.

“We are building partnerships with educational institutions to increase support for programs and for students looking to pursue careers in energy-related fields,” American Association for Blacks in Energy (AABE) Board Chair Rose McKinney James said. “The partnership with Rowan College at Burlington County and Rowan University will provide a directed program that will include certificate and degree programs that make the process affordable for students.”

As a result of the partnership, an academy will be established at Rowan College at Burlington County that will provide AABE members access to many programs.

These programs will include supplier development training that will improve their eligibility for government contracts, courses for prospective employees to learn the energy industry and academic courses for students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to learn foundational principles of the energy industry.

There will be an AABE student chapter, which will provide students pursuing a career in STEM the opportunity to learn about the energy industry through education, mentoring, community service and business networking.

AABE’s members work with companies from throughout the industry, some of whom have already begun to work with the new Rowan Global Solutions, a collaboration between Rowan University’s Global Learning and Partnerships and Rowan College at Burlington County’s Workforce Development Institute.

Rowan Global Solutions will allow both campuses to expand the success helping local and regional employers throughout the nation. Pioneering members include PSE&G, PECO, Edison Electric Institute and Southern Company.

“This partnership will be a national model for energy and utility education,” Rowan University President Dr. Ali Houshmand said. “Our curriculum will be shaped by the American Association of Blacks in Energy so that our students will learn the precise skills leading employers are looking for when hiring or promoting someone. We are very excited about this partnership that we can replicate to meet the needs of any company or sector in the country.”

Beyond the AABE initiative, Rowan Global Solutions will be a distinct arm of both Rowan University’s Global Learning and Partnerships and Rowan College at Burlington County’s Workforce Development Institute. It will provide comprehensives talent development services for regional and global businesses.

Rowan University Vice President of Rowan Global Learning & Partnerships Dr. Horacio Sosa and Rowan College at Burlington County Director of Business Engagement Jonah Cooper Jr. will lead the new organization.

“Our Workforce Development Institute has proven its ability to meet the needs of businesses in our community and the region, and now in partnership with Rowan University, we will be able to help businesses throughout the country who are looking for skilled workers and people who are seeking better employment opportunities,” Rowan College at Burlington County President Paul Drayton said. “By listening closely to what leading employers need, our ‘Classroom to Career’ pathway has created more work opportunities for students and more classes that provide the skills that employers seek.”

To learn more about taking advantage of training opportunities through Rowan Global Solutions, contact Jonah Cooper at jcooper@rcbc.edu or 856-291-4245.

To learn more about RCBC’s Classroom to Career approach, visitrcbc.edu/classroom2career.

The attached image was provided by Rowan College at Burlington County