The Region One Education Service Center GEAR UP: Pathways to the Future Program and Operation College Bound & Beyond project has joined forces with the Texas A&M RGV Advanced Manufacturing Hub to transform the local workforce by investing in the education of adult learners.
Participants joined Region One ESC at its Conference Center in Edinburg to take advantage of the free opportunity to earn two cybersecurity certificates, “Cybersecurity for Everyone” and Cybersecurity in the Workplace from the Texas A&M RGV Advanced Manufacturing Hub.
Director of the RGV Advanced Manufacturing Hub Katherine Diaz explained that the hub is a state-funded initiative under Texas A&M Engineering. The intent of the hub is to increase the number of qualified job applicants in the region. This is done through free trainings, ranging from heavy equipment operation to welding. By extension, the hub aims to create economic opportunity in the region.
“Our goal is to help individuals in the community learn a skill, so they can get a job, receive a raise or a promotion,” Diaz said. “The courses we are offering today are two-fold. One, we want people to be smarter about the way they behave online. As well as be able to take that certificate and say, ‘I have the skill. I have the set of knowledge.’ and they can add that to a resume to make them a more attractive applicant for jobs.”
Attendees were guided through the training, presented in English and Spanish. The session ended with certificates that may open a variety of possibilities in their careers.
“Cybersecurity is a subject that is very important, not only to a parent, but to me as a federal employee,” said participant Alejandro Rodriguez. “The training helped make me a smarter employee. I can take care of myself from a personal standpoint as far as cybersecurity and in managing the resources of my employer to be a safer employee online.”
Just The Beginning
The new partnership with the Texas A&M RGV Advanced Manufacturing Hub led the way for the first-time collaboration between the Region One ESC GEAR UP: Pathways to the Future Program and the Operation College Bound & Beyond project.
“It is a perfect fit,” said GEAR UP Specialist Angelica Gomez-Gonzalez. “Offering services like these to our parents assists them in setting a good example for their children about the importance of continuing education, whether that be a four-year college degree or working toward certificates that can build their employability.”
Seventeen parents walked away from the workshop with the two highly sought certificates.
“We’re all learners,” said Rosie Franco, coordinator of the Operation College Bound & Beyond project. “It’s about inspiring. Their children see their parents growing, so they will get inspired and continue education themselves. Everybody wins.”
The Operation College Bound & Beyond project will be hosting another cybersecurity training at Carmen Avila Elementary School on Dec. 2 for adults 18 and older.