Workforce/ Certification

Southern California has hundreds of degree-awarding schools with too many nationally and internationally-recognized, top-tier programs and colleges to mention.  There is a plethora of talented engineers, PhD candidates, creative gurus, and more coming out of our local programs and would be great assets to clean technology companies at all levels (start-ups through to mature companies),  However, several of these colleges and universities offer specific programs that have been carved out to meet the needs of our green economy/clean technology employers and future employees, and we’ve featured some of these below, including profiles on some schools that showcases what makes their program so unique and such a well-fit for employers.

Further Reading:

CCSE-Report-LA-CleanTech – Report: Clean Energy/Clean Tech Workforce Needs Assessment and Strategy for the Los Angeles Region – June 2014, Prepared by Estolano LeSar Perez Advisors; Prepared for California Center for Sustainable Energy and Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator

Universities

UCLA – Engineering – Materials Science and Engineering

Under the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MS&E) aims to foster a collegial atmosphere … Read more

PROFILE: USC Viterbi Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science

Under the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science (MFD) aims to provide graduates with a well-rounded engineering education … Read more

PROFILE: UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability

UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability includes various research areas with a focus on critical environmental challenges including climate change, air and water quality, biodiversity … Read more

PROFILE: CalState LA

California State University, Los Angeles – College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology offers programs leading to Bachelor of Science degree in Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering … Read more

PROFILE: Resnick Institute

  The Resnick Institute for Science, Energy and Sustainability at Caltech was founded in 2009.  The Resnick Institute is housed within Caltech’s Division of Chemistry and … Read more

PROFILE: USC Energy Institute

The University of Southern California launched their Energy Institute (commonly known as USCEI) in 2008, which is a university-wide integrated research endeavor focusing on the … Read more

PROFILE: UCLA Smart Grid Energy Research Center

The University of California, Los Angeles has a Smart Grid Energy Research Center (perhaps more commonly known as SMERC), which works on developing the next generation electric … Read more

PROFILE: Art Center College of Design

The Art Center College of Design in Pasadena is renowned for its transportation design programs, which have recently expanded beyond personal automobiles to prepare “students for … Read more

PROFILE: John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies

The John T. Lyle Center for Regenerative Studies at CalPoly Pomona works to “advance the principles of environmentally sustainable living through education, research, demonstration and … Read more

PROFILE: CSUN Energy Research Center

California State University, Northridge’s Energy Research Center promotes, coordinates, facilitates and implements research and development projects in new or alternative energy sources, sustainability practices, and conservation … Read more

Community Colleges

PROFILE: El Camino College

El Camino College offers various programs that could align with cleantech companies; the college even notes that “green” tech companies as an area that they … Read more

PROFILE: Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Los Angeles Trade Technical College (LATTC) (founded in 1925) is part of the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD).  LATTC offers a variety of programs in … Read more

PROFILE: Cerritos College Alternative Fuels Service Technician

Located in Norwalk, Cerritos College offers the Alternative Fuels Service Technician certificate program and an automotive service technology associate degree program through its Advanced Transportation … Read more

PROFILE: Citrus College

Citrus College (in Glendora, California) offers an Automotive Technology Associate Degree program, which has received certification by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation. Citrus College … Read more

PROFILE: Rio Hondo College

Rio Hondo College offers an Automotive Technology program that has received “Master” level designation by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (a designation that very … Read more

PROFILE: Long Beach City College Advanced Transportation Technology & Energy Center (ATTE)

 Since 1997, Long Beach City College’s Advanced Transportation Technology & Energy Center (ATTE) has provided an array of advanced transportation and energy related technical education, … Read more

UCI: Advanced Power & Energy Program (APEP)

  • The Advanced Power and Energy Program at the University of California, Irvine addresses the development and deployment of efficient, environmentally sensitive, sustainable power generation and energy conversion worldwide. At the heart of this endeavor is the creation of new knowledge brought about through fundamental and applied research, and the sharing of this knowledge through education and outreach. Industry is actively engaged and vital to this effort. The National Fuel Cell Research Center is one essential component of the APEP program, involved in the advancement of fuel cell technology. The NFCRC was responsible for the completion of the Fountain Valley tri-generation hydrogen fueling station, and also hosts its own biogas-converting hydrogen fueling station on the UCI campus.

Advanced Transportation and Renewable Energy

  • An initiative of the California Community College’s Economic and Workforce Development (CCCEWD) program, AT&RE is dedicated to serving California’s advanced transportation and renewable energy companies with innovative business solutions. AT&RE helps connect employers with campus partners that are providing coursework in a variety of transportation and energy sectors, including alternative fuels. On the educator side, AT&RE provides consulting for prospective colleges to help them form new transportation and energy training programs, including an “education opportunity template” to assist in the program design process.

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