AUSTIN ⎯ Employers throughout Texas are accepting and reaffirming their commitment to the Texas Internship Challenge. Texas’ Tri-Agency partners last week met in Austin, Texas with employer, industry associations and education representatives to reaffirm their commitment to the “Texas Internship Challenge,” a joint partnership between the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), Texas Education Agency (TEA ) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to promote paid internships. Here’s what employers, industry associations and education representatives are saying about the Texas Internship Challenge:
“People are our greatest source of competitive advantage. That’s why Accenture remains committed to developing the next generation of talent, and we are proud to participate again in the Texas Internship Challenge. Today, companies are facing a skills gap, especially in STEM fields, and building the capabilities of the future workforce is essential to driving innovation, competitiveness and growth. At Accenture, our interns help our clients continue to grow, compete and transform in today’s digital economy.”
- Jon Andrews, Managing Director and Health & Public Service Client Lead, State of Texas, Accenture
“The Round Rock Chamber is pleased to endorse the Texas Internship Challenge,” said Amy Mizcles, the chamber’s vice president of community enhancement. “Workforce development is a critical part of our economic-generation mission and we recognize that meaningful, experiential learning opportunities cultivate a strong talent pipeline. The Texas Internship Challenge provides local employers with a large and qualified workforce while also giving students an opportunity to explore career options. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”
- Amy Mizcles, Vice President of Community Enhancement, Round Rock Chamber
“We’ve always believed that creating paid internship programs with positions that focused on areas such as technology, marketing and entrepreneurship would be a natural next step for us or any EDC around the state,” said Meade. “Texas universities and colleges have a pool of talented students who are eager to get real-world experience. Accepting the Texas Internship Challenge helps create a win-win situation for students and EDCs, both of which will benefit directly from the program.”
- Alex Meade, Chief Executive Officer, Mission Economic Development Corporation
“The Texas Association of Manufacturers strongly supports the Texas Internship Challenge. More placement opportunities are needed from all industry sectors to better prepare students for promising careers. An educated and skilled workforce continues to be the lifeblood of manufacturing across Texas. This program is a win-win for both employers and those entering the workforce.”
- Tony Bennett, President, Texas Association of Manufacturers
“The Austin Chamber is accepting the internship challenge. The Austin region is the Human Capital and this is another strategy for our employers to best prepare our college students to be successful after graduation.”
- Kwee Lan Teo, Vice President of Talent & Development Acquisition, Austin Chamber of Commerce
“Lockheed Martin has long been involved with work-based learning programs. Paid internships are critical to our talent recruiting and human capital strategy. Internships are valuable not only in helping us attract key talent but also in helping to strengthen our educational partnerships, influencing curriculum and most importantly, providing opportunities for students who want to become Lockheed martin employees to demonstrate their creativity, work ethic, team building and desire to learn.”
- Jon Gustafson, Director of Workforce and Economic Development, Lockheed Martin
“Students gain tremendous real-world knowledge through the opportunity to participate in a paid internship while pursuing a degree, and public university leaders enthusiastically support these opportunities. The presence of paid internships is extremely beneficial in assisting students as they achieve their educational and career goals while reducing student debt. We look forward to enhancing the meaningful impact of paid internships for both students and the business community as classroom discussions increasingly merge academic foundations with workplace experiences.”
- Robert Duncan, Chairman, Council of Public University Presidents & Chancellors
“We know that the Texas Internship Challenge has great opportunities for our students in high school, in particular for them to meet their dream with their reality. We know that as young people are inspired by an internship – the simple act of an internship – they get to interact in the workplace that they someday dream to be an actual part of. When they interact in that workplace in high school, their life changes, and we know that as a young person’s life changes, their whole family changes.”
- Marcelo Cavazos, Arlington ISD Superintendent
“On behalf of the ASE Education Foundation I proudly accept the Texas Internship Challenge. The automotive field is facing a severe shortage of automotive technicians. So, having this program in the support of the employers and school districts is going to be a vital key in filling that gap that we have facing us today. So, again we proudly accept the challenge.”
- Matthew Northrup with the ASE Industry Alliance, ASE Education Foundation