Many working adults are eager to pursue career-aligned education but face barriers tied to time, transportation, and cost. Colleges can partner with local employers to expand access and increase success by offering training programs where these learners work. By co-locating instruction with support services like advising, tutoring, and career navigation, these employer–college partnerships help learners complete college courses while strengthening skills necessary for career advancement.
Purpose
- Create more direct pathways from training to employment in high-opportunity careers
- Align training programs with local labor market demands and employer needs
- Increase persistence and completion by co-locating academic, financial, and career support
College Spotlight
Strategy Features
Training programs at partner sites succeed when rooted in trust, alignment, and support. They bring college to the community, meet learners where they are, and create direct, supported pathways to careers that match local workforce needs.
Programs are developed to meet evolving job requirements, ensuring learners graduate with the skills needed for local, high-demand careers.
On-site support like advising, tutoring, and technology access helps adult learners balance education with work, caregiving, and other responsibilities.
Evening and weekend options, modular courses, and hybrid learning formats allow adult learners to progress at a pace that fits their lives.
Implementation Tips
Effective training programs require a deep understanding of local context, consistent communication with partners, and a willingness to co-create solutions that fit learners’ lives and employers’ real needs.
Start by listening. Align offerings with employer demand and learner realities to ensure programs are both market-relevant and logistically feasible.
Host info sessions on-site at partner locations. Joint presentations from colleges and employers help learners see support from both sides.
Choose partners that already serve the target population. Their credibility can boost recruitment, build confidence, and reduce learner hesitation.
Cover materials, tech, or travel needs. When learners see tangible help — from free books to flexible schedules — they’re more likely to persist.
Maintain year-round presence at partner sites through events, alumni engagement, and staff visibility to deepen relationships and referrals.
