Winter 2006 Newsletter

Workforce Development and Small Business... By Craig T. Follins, PhD Vice President, Workforce and Economic Development The Victoria College

To be sure, workforce and economic development are key elements for small and emerging businesses.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs requiring higher education will grow by 22 percent between 2002 and 2012, nearly double the rate of non-college jobs. In addition, the highly educated baby-boom generation is nearing retirement age, and shortages in the scientific and engineering fields will be particularly acute (Solutions for our future.org, 2006). Workers entering the workplace today can expect to have an average of six to seven different careers in their lifetime (That is careers, not jobs).  Since the bulk of new jobs are created in small businesses, it is not unreasonable to assume that many of these careers will be in small businesses.  With that said, it is imperative that small business, particularly those poised for growth, recognize the need to have a highly trained workforce.

Victoria College stands ready to assist small and emerging businesses in their efforts to remain competitive in the global marketplace. From short-term, customized training to workforce technical degree programs, Victoria College has the right solutions at the right time for small business. Course offerings include (but are not limited to) computer networking, process technology, office technology, accounting, network security, allied health, and instrumentation. Customized and corporate training offerings include computer applications, leadership and management, health and wellness, language and bilingual skills, QuickBooks, customer service, Microsoft Office Suite, construction and maintenance, food and beverage operations, real estate and commercial truck driving training. There are also over 3500 online courses available through the continuing education office as well.

Industry research suggests that the success of any business is directly tied to the level of training and competency of its employees.  Employees that are properly trained can increase the bottom line exponentially. Victoria College has a track record of education and training excellence that spans over eighty years. It is training provider of the first order.  Each year hundreds of businesses and organizations are impacted in immeasurable ways by the credentials that are obtained by our students. We are pleased to be included in this newsletter and look forward to helping you grow your small or emerging business. You can reach our customized training experts via telephone at 361-582-2575. You can log on to http://www.victoriacollege.edu/programs/ to view a listing of our programs of study.