Education - Business Partnership An Innovative Response to Workforce Training Needs

1. Education - Business PartnershipAn Innovative Response to Workforce Training Needs

2. Presenter – Tom Burns Experience • 30+ years of Distribution, Transmission and Nuclear Generation Experience • 15 Years of Training Management at Northeast Utilities in T&D and Nuclear • Increasing levels of leadership with Northeast Utilities • Visionary with stellar track record of designing employer – driven education partnerships with outstanding results Boards • Governor appointment to Connecticut Employment and Training Commission • Former Director for Eastern Connecticut Workforce Investment Board • Co-chair Connecticut Energy Workforce Consortium • Governance committee for Energy Providers Coalition for Education (EPCE) Publications • Prepared for use in the nuclear industry Education • BS Degree with Business and Sociology focus • MS in Education • Numerous industry and leadership certifications

3. Presentation Purpose • Share a successful model from the energy industry that addresses workforce issues with a unique partnership combining online and on-the-ground industry focused instruction • Present the current and future workforce data that drives demand for innovative solutions • Explain how it works • Describe the value of this approach • Respond to questions

4. EPCE • The Energy Providers Coalition for Education (EPCE) is a partnership of utilities, energy-related companies, associations, and unions that have come together to develop online workforce solutions that work to help them: • Attract • Train • Develop • Retain

5. EPCE Partners

7. The Energy Workforce Today A 2009 survey by Center for Energy Workforce Development predicted that by 2015, 46 % of the existing skilled technician workforce and 51% of the engineering workforce may need to be replaced due to retirement or attrition.

8. Taskforce on America’s Future Energy Jobs National Commission on Energy Policy concluded that 150,000 new jobs would be needed to design and operate low-carbon power sources in the coming years.

9. Preparing the Next Generation If we are to have an energy future, we have to prepare the workforce today. *** New workers will need the right education and training to enter the energy industry.

10. The Partners Northeast Utilities Bismarck State College Bruce Emmil, Associate Vice President, National Energy Center of Excellence Connecticut Community College System Gail Coppage, State Workforce Director ,

11. The Driver: Employer Need • The utility industry is facing 120,000 retirements over the next few years—more than at any other time in its almost 130-year history. • Almost 60,000 of the nation's electrical utility skilled technicians and engineers will be eligible to retire by 2015. Serious ramifications if the industry doesn’t prepare for this loss of skills and knowledge. -

12. The Employer Northeast Utilities A Connecticut-based, Fortune 500 energy company, NU is New England’s largest energy delivery system. • 2 million + electricity and natural gas customers • 9000 employees across 3 states • 6 business units: • NSTAR • Connecticut Light & Power • Public Service of New Hampshire • Western Massachusetts Electric • Transmission Services • Yankee Gas Services Co

13. The Business Need Upgrade the Education of the Incumbent and Future Workforce • Incumbent workforce with some college. Difficult to finish degree when working full time. • Entry level workforce. Need to upgrade entry knowledge to an associate degree. • NU cannot sustain a community college program at any one school based on regional hiring needs. • Flexibility of using any one of the 12 community colleges in the Connecticut service territory. • Degree is awarded in Connecticut and aligns with 4-year state universities.

14. NU’s Sense of Urgency • Need programs now for the future workforce: • Advanced Technology • Mobile Workforce • Smart Grid

15. Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence (NECE) • Vision: a worldwide leader in education & training for the energy industry • Department of Energy designation • Community College located in Bismarck ND since 1939 • 4300 credit students • 14,000 non-credit students – Continuing Education, Training & Innovation • Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools • Founding Education Partner for EPCE

16. NECE • 11 energy-related programs offered: • Generation, Transmission, Distribution, Process and Petroleum sectors • Certificates, Associate Applied Science Degrees • Bachelors of Applied Science in Energy Mgt • Both Classroom & Online • Energy curriculum has been offered for 40+ years • Customized Training & Dept of Labor-approved Apprenticeship Programs (Non-Credit) • Partnerships with industry and colleges

17. Connecticut Community College - Partner • A system of 12 Connecticut community colleges, largest higher education system in CT • 58,253 students enrolled in credit programs leading to a degree or certificate • 40,000 students in non-credit, skill-building programs • Partnership ready • No new funding available • Innovation required

18. The Curriculum • Connecticut Community Colleges offer— - General Education Courses - Other Technical Courses • Bismarck State College offers --- - Industry-specific Online Electric Power Technology courses Associates Degree in Technology Studies Awarded by Connecticut Community College System.

19. Key Elements of a Successful Partnership

20. And… Reaching consensus takes time when many voices must be heard

21. Lessons Learned • Understand how the laws differ for each state • Understand federal reporting requirements • Understand financial aid changes • Ensure the curriculum aligns with the on-the-job field training • Not every college will agree with this approach so recognize when it is time to find another partner • Set a timeline and try to meet deadlines • Continually grow and nurture the industry partnership • Keep partners engaged • Never lose sight of the goal All politics is local so don’t be surprised if local politicians change their position

22. Benefits of Partnership • Benefits to the Employer: • Candidate pool with the right skills • Addresses long term regional workforce needs • Tap into industry expertise of academic institution • Reduces internal training costs • Benefits to the Educational Partners: • No need to duplicate existing programs • Build capacity and expand offerings in a broad-based, sustainable manner • Access to industry curriculum that would not be available otherwise • Benefits to the Students: • Opportunity to earn an industry-built, industry-endorsed degree otherwise not available in their area • Easy access to online education 24/7 • Degree awarded by their home institution • Classroom training aligns with on-the-job apprentice program

23. The Partnership Associate in Technology Studies Combination online and on-the-ground instruction Bismarck State College Unskilled technician workforce Connecticut Community College Industry (Skilled technician workforce) Northeast Utilities

24. Some Resources • http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/04/economy_spurs_more_collaborati.html • http://chronicle.com/article/More-Partnerships-Between/128293/ • http://www.corporatevoices.org/system/files/u822/CVWF_Ill_Prepared_UPDATED_2011.pdf • http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/06/pdf/working_learners.pdf

25. Contact Information Tom Burns: burnstf@nu.com