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As the green energy conversation continues through legislation and increased business opportunities in Delaware, community colleges are working quickly to solve new workforce challenges. l PHOTO BY KATIE TABELING[/caption]
DOVER — As the green energy conversation continues through legislation and increased business opportunities in Delaware, community colleges are working quickly to solve new workforce challenges.
At Delaware Technical Community College (DTCC), Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Justina Thomas says the college has increased its emphasis on workforce development around the topic of green energy, or energy that derives from natural sources or environmentally friendly processes.
“There is also more work to do to better understand the needs. To that end, representing the college, I have begun attending the Energy Stakeholders Group meetings led by Senator [Stephanie] Hansen, to better understand the needs of the state’s businesses and industry and to see what gaps exist so we can attempt to fill them,” Thomas told the Delaware Business Times in a prepared statement, emphasizing the need for continued growth around the issue.
The Energy Stakeholders Group includes a variety of professionals from the legislative, educational and business sectors to name just a few and has made recommendations to Delaware’s legislature over the last year regarding green energy practices.
Attending those meetings and connecting with other professionals in the green energy space has proven helpful to Thomas and DTCC as they work to improve offerings so that new generations of students can work in fields that empower their growth, as well as the growth of the state.
“We are currently working to reframe our program offerings to meet current industry demands. We believe by partnering with companies in Delaware, we can offer contract training specific to individual company needs and/or develop short-term programs statewide to address critical workforce shortages related to energy,” Thomas told DBT.
While the college works to identify ways it can strengthen its newer green energy offerings, one program that has been under its belt for 15 years is on its way out the door due to a decline in enrollment.
Degree options specializing in building automation systems, energy management and renewable energy solar will be discontinued as of fall 2024. But DTCC has already started weaving green energy practices into other programming with more to come.
“Delaware Tech prepares students for jobs through both short-term and long-term workforce training programs and associate degrees in the energy space. For example, through our Workforce Development division, we offer a 140-hour Utility Academy and a 300-hour HVAC technician certificate, among other programs,” she said. “We are currently revising some of our credit-bearing courses to include green energy competencies, particularly in some of our engineering programs.”
