Area industries invest in UWA welding students through donation
LIVINGSTON, Ala.—Students in the University of West Alabama’s non-degree welding certificate program will benefit from two recent generous donations of supplies and equipment from Ingall’s Shipbuilding and WestRock. The school has enjoyed collaborations with both partners as they work to help participants build the skillset needed to earn high-wage jobs and boost Alabama’s workforce.
The latest show of support from Ingall’s to UWA’s non-degree welding certificate includes a donation of personal protective equipment—hard hats, helmets, gloves, safety glasses and ear plugs—and tools like chipping hammers and wire brushes. This donation of consumables has an estimated value of approximately $1,250 and offsets the costs that students would otherwise need to cover.
“This donation from Ingall’s Shipbuilding will help us provide the necessary protective equipment and tools for our students to safely learn the skillset they need to be competitive in the workforce,” said Dr. Donnie Cobb, director of UWA’s Center for Workforce Development. “It helps to alleviate some of the costs that participants might otherwise have to pay out of pocket, so this helps us position members of the workforce for employment and better pay.”
WestRock of Demopolis has donated a Lincoln welding simulator. The unit offers a virtual hands-on training experience that allows students to complete more passes than traditional training while providing real-time welding technique feedback similar to a video game. The unit is ideal for schools and training centers with limited resources, and it offers computer-generated data specific to each session.
“This training simulator slashes material costs and time necessary to learn skills in training,” Cobb explained. “Learning to weld using this simulator uses a significantly lower amount of materials, so we will see the financial benefits of it very quickly. More importantly, the training is top-notch, so our students will see the benefit of excellent training through simulation as they spend their training time much more efficiently.”
WestRock is a world leader in the paper industry, employing more than 45,000 team members at more than 300 manufacturing facilities, design centers, research labs, and sales offices around the globe. Their Demopolis location specializes in manufacturing, paperboard, and pulp. UWA students regularly land internships at the facility.
Receiving support such as this from industry partners allows the University to better meet the needs of the region it serves.
“We are grateful for support from partners like Ingall’s Shipbuilding and WestRock and the boost that it gives our academic programs,” said Dr. Chris Thomason, vice president for institutional advancement at UWA. “Support from an industry leader such as these two validates the many needs that we are working diligently to address. We are excited to have this support, and we look forward to further developing partnerships that directly benefit our students in such a way.”
Students in the UWA’s non-degree welding certificate program recently tested with the national shipbuilding operation, with 75 percent of the students passing the test and offered jobs with Huntington Ingalls Industries. They are America’s largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry.
This show of support from Ingall’s and WestRock for UWA students is the product of two of the University’s industry partnerships intended to enhance training and employment opportunities.
UWA offers a non-degree certificate in welding through the College of Business and Technology, and is one of several technical associate and certificate programs that offers hands-on training that immediately prepares students for the workforce. This type of offering is what sets UWA apart as the leader in economic and workforce development for the region, as such training is designed specifically to meet the needs of business and industry in Alabama’s Black Belt.
“UWA is the only four-year university in Alabama that offers these technical training programs,” Cobb said. “We offer opportunities in technical areas that directly meet the needs of our area, and that speaks volumes for UWA’s commitment to empowering the region.”
To learn more about UWA’s non-degree welding certificate program and opportunities to enter the workforce with the skills necessary, contact J.D. Pruitt by phone at 205-652-3488 or by email at jpruitt@uwa.edu.
UWA’s Center for Workforce Development actively seeks industry partnerships and welcomes both collaboration support. Area industries who are interested in supporting training programs and opportunities at UWA are encouraged to contact Cobb by phone at 205-652-3704 or by email atdcobb@uwa.edu to discuss needs and opportunities. To learn more about tax-deductible contributions in support of student programs, contact Dr. Chris Thomason by email at cthomason@uwa.edu.