The Hawaii Community College Office of Continuing Education and Training (OCET) plays a vital role in Hawaii Island’s workforce training efforts. Since 1992, this community-based, noncredit unit of the college has been an active participant in preparing people for new careers, as well as upgrading skills of incumbent workers. “OCET has continued to keep up with current technology and new trends. OCET keeps up with trends in many areas of the local workforce, including the visitor industry. HTA, Hawaii’s state tourism agency, has projected a total of 91,000 Chinese visitors to Hawaii this year, which is a 37 percent increase over last year,” said director Marsha Okajima. “While this number is expected to rise to 140,000 per year by 2014, businesses can prepare for these visitors by receiving culturally sensitive customer service training.
The Hawaii Community College Office of Continuing Education and Training (OCET) plays a vital role in Hawaii Island’s workforce training efforts. Since 1992, this community-based, noncredit unit of the college has been an active participant in preparing people for new careers, as well as upgrading skills of incumbent workers. “OCET has continued to keep up with current technology and new trends. OCET keeps up with trends in many areas of the local workforce, including the visitor industry. HTA, Hawaii’s state tourism agency, has projected a total of 91,000 Chinese visitors to Hawaii this year, which is a 37 percent increase over last year,” said director Marsha Okajima. “While this number is expected to rise to 140,000 per year by 2014, businesses can prepare for these visitors by receiving culturally sensitive customer service training.
“OCET’s Introduction to Chinese Language and Culture is designed specifically for the visitor industry and will be essential to their success. The Rural Development Project (RDP) is part of the OCET unit and is offering courses in Green Energy Management. “Sustainable training programs in fields such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, and agriculture certify participants for transition into new jobs as well as for incumbent workers. Photovoltaic Design and Installation, Recycle Service Worker, and Natural Farming programs are a few examples of how OCET is contributing to our island’s sustainability. “Another sector of the workforce community is our not-for-profit agencies. OCET is meeting the need to train people in not-for-profit management by partnering with Kapiolani Community College to offer a certificate program on Hawaii Island,” she said. “This is a comprehensive overview that covers fundamental management skills tailored to this sector and is taught by community-based consultants and sector professionals.”
The Office of Continuing Education and Training offers rapid response workforce solutions for Hawaii Island and will continue to contribute to the overall success of our community. Call Okajima at 934-2700 or email marshao@hawaii.edu.