糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Launches Workforce Development Center to Strengthen Career Pathways and Support Arkansas Industry
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has launched the Workforce Development Center, a new initiative designed to prepare students and professionals for career success while helping Arkansas businesses and industries meet their evolving workforce needs.
The University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees approved the new center during its Sept. 26 meeting. Housed within the Office of Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Ann Bain, the Workforce Development Center brings together four existing units 鈥� Concurrent Enrollment, Corporate and Community Education, Study Abroad, and University Career Services 鈥� under one strategic umbrella. The goal is to enhance collaboration, optimize resources, and align the university鈥檚 efforts with state and regional workforce priorities.
鈥淭he Workforce Development Center gives us the unique opportunity to support learners from age 14 through retirement,鈥� said Dr. Aaron Duvall, executive director of workforce development, who leads the new center. 鈥淥ur mission is to equip students and professionals with the skills and credentials that employers are seeking while helping companies across Arkansas upskill their workforce. We want to start by actually listening to business and industry leaders in our community and design programs and certifications that they value and need. Workforce development cannot happen in silos.鈥�
The Workforce Development Center will serve as a central hub for aligning academic programs with non-credit courses and expanding opportunities for learners. Among its priorities are:
路 Expanding non-credit workforce pathways through Corporate and Community Education
路 Developing new certificates of proficiency that meet industry needs
路 Increasing internship opportunities through University Career Services
路 聽 Broadening career and technical education opportunities for high school students through Corporate and Community Education
路 Creating tools for workforce data collection and assessment
路 Evaluating prior learning assessment across the university
路 Expanding global workforce experiences, such as global internships, through Study Abroad
路 Supporting grant writing for workforce-related initiatives
Provost Bain said the creation of the center reflects 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 commitment to both student success and Arkansas鈥檚 economic vitality.
鈥淭his center is about more than connecting students with jobs,鈥� Bain said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about strengthening Arkansas鈥檚 economy by preparing graduates to meet workforce demands, supporting employers in developing their talent pipelines, and creating opportunities that benefit entire communities.鈥�
The Workforce Development Center will build upon the success of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Corporate Partnerships Program, which offers employees of partner companies a 10 percent tuition scholarship, a $25-per-credit-hour book scholarship, and a waived application fee. This fall alone, the program has seen nearly 475 enrollments from 130 corporate partners. Since 2022, more than 1,500 students have participated, generating an estimated financial impact of nearly $5 million.
The Workforce Development Center will also house the newly formed Workforce Development Center Council, a group of faculty, staff, and administrators from across the university. The council will meet regularly to share insights on workforce trends in their fields, ensuring the center鈥檚 initiatives remain responsive to changing needs in the state and region.
By uniting these efforts under one umbrella, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is positioned to help students succeed in their careers while supporting businesses and industries with the talent and training they need to grow.
鈥淭his is a space for collaboration,鈥� Duvall said. 鈥淲hether you鈥檙e a student, alumni, or employer, we want to work together to make sure 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is providing the right pathways for Arkansas鈥檚 workforce now and in the future.鈥�
糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock invites community members, alumni, employers, and industry leaders to partner in shaping the future of workforce development in Arkansas. Those interested in sharing ideas, identifying workforce needs, or exploring partnership opportunities are encouraged to contact Duvall at [email protected].