Coastal Colleges Give Lift to Business Community
Published Aug 21, 2008
Savannah Technical College works with local employers on workforce training programs.
Whether it’s workforce development, employee training, certificate programs or research and development, business and industry in Coastal Georgia benefit from a wealth of university and community college programs.
The area’s higher-learning institutions, which include Georgia Southern University, Savannah Technical College, Savannah State University and Coastal Georgia Community College’s two campuses, vary in size and focus.
The universities offer research and other assistance, while the community colleges often are integral parts of workforce development setup, partnering with businesses and school systems to prepare and train workers.
Georgia Southern University has become a premier research and development hub and a major driver of the regional economy.
A university study showed Georgia Southern generating an economic impact of more than $650 million and 9,500 jobs in 2005-06.
The university is home to a number of centers and institutes that provide research and analysis and are assets to the business community.
The Bureau of Business Research & Economic Development, for example, provides research and data used in shaping the region’s economic development strategies, says Dr. Phyllis Isley, center director.
“Our role,” she says, “is to serve as a connection between the intellectual capital we have at the university and the communities that need it to address economic development issues.”
Coastal Georgia Community’s Camden and Brunswick campuses are involved with their local school systems. Camden County High School, for example, partnered with CGCC’s Camden branch for a major academic restructuring effort.
“We only have one high school in the county, so they’re trying to establish smaller communities, or learning academies, within it,” says Holly Christensen, director of the Camden campus. “Students will buy into a subject and make that their focus, whether it’s in the public sector, sciences or fine arts.”
The college has begun a transition to a four-year institution and will be renamed the College of Coastal Georgia.
CGCC also provides components of Georgia’s Work Ready Initiative, including tools employers can use to assess job applicants’ skill sets. The college is working with the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay on apprenticeship training, supplying a steady stream of workers to replace those who retire or relocate.
At Savannah Technical College, the focus also is on jobs, with multiple fields of study and certificate programs for employers and employees alike, says Melanie Smith, interim enrollment management and marketing director.
“Each of our programs works with an advisory board, so we’re able to stay current on workforce needs,” Smith says. “Those board members have a direct stake in that program, so that lets us work directly with our employers on projects that are coming up and on other continuing-training issues.”
The college has an economic development arm that works with area companies on non-credit training programs and other specific needs, an initiative that has led to historic enrollment numbers.
“We’re not only working for area businesses, but also helping our students create a better quality of life for themselves,” Smith says.
Story by Joe Morris
Photo by Todd Bennett
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