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Palo Alto College, Education Design Lab Helping Upskill Workers with Stackable Credentials

Education Design Lab, a nonprofit focused on credentialing for new models of education, is partnering with Palo Alto College and Goodwill in San Antonio, TX, to help train local Goodwill workers for growing fields like logistics and supply chain management. Supported by funding from Walmart, the UpSkill SA! Project will combine curriculum from Palo Alto College with support services from both the college and Goodwill, all with the goal of giving workers the job skills they need to succeed.

Participants will earn "stackable" credentials that can be applied as credit toward a certificate or associate degree program from Palo Alto College. They will also have access to counselors, case workers and life coaches, to help "address the barriers to completion that students face, such as child care, transportation, or access to technology," according to a news announcement.

"Skill and equity gaps are often two sides of the same coin, and it takes local partnerships between learning providers and employers to close both," said Kathleen deLaski, founder and president of Education Design Lab, in a statement. "This work is about building new pathways to opportunity for individuals, while addressing challenges that can help to build a more equitable economy in the San Antonio region."

"UpSkill SA! reflects the power — and necessity — of cross-sector collaboration to build accessible pathways into the most in-demand fields," commented Robert Garza, president of Palo Alto College. "By connecting Goodwill workers with marketable skills in high-growth jobs, we can help ensure every person in our community has the ability to gain the education needed for a stable career."

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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