Laurel Institute Adapts to Workforce Needs

HERMITAGE, Pa. – Laurel Technical Institute will focus this year on adapting to the region’s changing workforce dynamics.

As the shortage of skilled workers continues, local employers are engaging more in the educational process, according to Douglas Decker, executive vice president of the campus.

As a result, Laurel students are getting more workplace learning opportunities, including internships, clinical rotations, school-based enterprises and advisory board memberships.

The school’s goal is to provide hands-on work-based learning and real-world knowledge, Decker says. It offers health care simulators, on-site cosmetology salons, a student-run restaurant and more.

Laurel also offers premier employer partnerships that furnish students with financial resources, such as scholarships or tuition assistance, to obtain their degrees. It is a no-cost program that gives employers an opportunity to help train and shape their workforces.

Looking ahead, Laurel will introduce new programs and teaching techniques, Decker says.

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.