The Industry Skills Development Initiative (ISDI) is a partnership between Tech Collective and Workforce Partnership of Greater RI (WPGRI) and is funded by the Governors Workforce Board RI. The entirety of the grant will work to align and foster training and workforce development resources in the state’s Information Technology industry- one of Rhode’s Island’s high tech, high growth industry sectors. During the course of this grant, incumbent IT professionals, along with new and transitioning workers will be provided with the opportunity to take advantage of various IT training and/or certification programs.

The 4 components of the ISDI Grant for the Information Technology Industry are:

 

1. Training & Development-

• Continue with an Industry Advisory Council (IAC) to oversee/guide the grant’s training activities and provide industry responsive training for incumbent, new, and transitioning workers.
• Incumbent Workers- Training in the areas identified in the 2007 IT Skills Gap Analysis- technical, project management certification, and soft skills.
• Transitioning and Unemployed Workers- Design and pilot a program for 15-20 new and transitioning workers called “RI_Works_IT Boot Camp”. Potential program components would include industry knowledge, technical training certifications, soft skills, and an internship at a local company.

 

2. Establish an Industry Based Presence at the One-Stop Centers-

• Provide an “Industry Liaison” at 4 of the netWORKri Career Centers (Pawtucket, Providence, West Warwick, and Middletown) to act as a link between IT employers, RIDLT Employer Service Representatives, netWORKri Career Center staff, and job seekers/customers.
• Meet with job seekers interested in the IT industry- provide industry knowledge, review resumes, identify existing skills/experience or needs, and make connections with training/employment opportunities
• Host industry information sessions and connect job seekers with training and/or employment opportunities.
• Offer industry focused workshops, training for center staff, and hosting of industry employer sessions with the Employer Service Representatives.
• Meet with and build strong relationships with industry employers and their HR staff to make employment connections and provide them with knowledge of what the DLT system can do for them.
• Establish an Industry Partner Information/Collateral Center- Work with netWORKri Career Center managers to designate an area at each center which is easily accessible to job seekers that would showcase information/job opportunities about the Information Technology Industry. This area would include industry reports, articles, labor market information, job postings, career information, etc…

 

3. Establish “Industry Greenhouse” Activities for Students and Educators-

• Partner with Junior Achievement to provide an industry specific reverse job shadow program for youth at Youth Centers.
• Provide Job Shadows, Industry Speakers, and Field Trips linking local industry/employers with youth in Work Readiness Programs at Youth Centers.
• Mentoring Project- Establish a mentoring program of professional women from the IT industry for students at Sophia Academy (Providence). This will be done in conjunction with Tech Collective’s Women In Technology Committee and partner companies of the IAC. Mentor training will be conducted through the RI Mentoring Partnership.
• Talent Development Portal (Internship Clearinghouse)- Implement a pilot program for matching students from local colleges/universities with local IT employers through a comprehensive web-based tool.
• GRRL Tech (Girls Reaching Remarkable Limits) Career Awareness Day- An interactive technology expo designed for girls from RI high schools to participate in hands on workshops led by female professionals from area companies paired with university professors. These workshops provide opportunities for the students to learn about rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. GRRL Tech is held at Roger Williams University.

 

4. Implement Career Awareness Strategies-

• Work with local Workforce Investment Boards (Workforce Partnership of Greater RI and Workforce Solutions of RI) and local IT companies to develop a short promotional video showcasing the IT industry and jobs in RI. It will be used at the netWORKri Career Centers, job or career fairs, and on the web via internet access, so that job seekers and students can access the information in different formats.