Brandman University Selected as Vendor for Workforce Innovation Fund

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Mar 3, 2014) - Brandman University's School of Extended Education, the entrepreneurial division of Brandman University, has been selected as a vendor for the Workforce Innovation Fund of Orange County, a program supported by the Employment and Training Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor. Brandman, along with its curriculum partner New Horizons, was selected by the Orange County Workforce Investment Board (OCWIB) to develop new IT extended education programs for the county through a competitive proposal process. 

OCWIB gathered a group of local business and education stakeholders who were asked to identify gaps between the needs of the IT workforce and the education available to IT students. Brandman answered the call with innovative programs to support industry development. 

The two Brandman programs which secured funding are focused on retrofitting current IT curriculum and developing new curriculum to aid the present and future IT workforce. Pilot Project 1 of the Workforce Innovation Fund will build curriculum for courses specific to four IT disciplines: mobile application and development, business process analytics, cloud computing and IT security. Pilot Project 2 will concentrate on the non-technical side of the IT skill set, with an emphasis on increasing IT leadership and business skills.

 "Companies need employees whose business skills are on par with their technical skills," says Nancy Salzman, Esq., dean of the School of Extended Education. "Employers tell us that IT workers with advanced technical knowledge often struggle with routine business administration processes. We're pleased to develop programs designed to alleviate this problem and also to propel today's IT professionals into the future of their industry with education programs that fill the gaps in hot areas like mobile apps, security and the cloud."

Two additional new certificate programs that have emerged include: "Workforce Readiness Skills and Understanding Business Administration," and "Leadership Development and Understanding Business Administration." New Horizons Computer Learning Centers of Southern California, the world's largest independent IT training company, will partner with Brandman in developing these programs.

"New Horizons has the subject-matter expertise needed to provide focused IT training and can offer the delivery and support that adult students require to succeed," said Salzman. Brandman and New Horizons welcome the opportunity to collaborate on these cutting-edge, skill-building IT projects and Brandman thanks the County of Orange, which oversees the OCWIB, to make these developments possible.

About Brandman University's School of Extended Education: Brandman University's School of Extended Education responds quickly to offer relevant and valuable courses that prepare individuals and organizations with workforce and professional development education that addresses today's fast-changing industries and evolving needs. Focusing on leadership, business, technology, health and wellness, education and general education, the School of Extended Education provides degree programs, workshops, seminars, certificate programs, leadership modules and programming leading to certification and academic credit. Its programs are created by the joint effort of Brandman faculty and instructors, working professionals and industry experts through a series of collaborative advisory boards while drawing from the rich history and prestigious reputation of Chapman University. This approach provides sustainable educational solutions that adjust to the needs of the real world. Visit www.brandman.edu/exed/ or call 1.800.632.0094 for more information.