Category: Workforce Development

Pogo loader donation benefits CTC diesel, heavy equipment program

Above: Students stand with university and Pogo Mine leaders in front of an underground loader that Pogo Mine donated to the UAF Community and Technical College Diesel and Heavy Equipment program. UAF photo by Eric Engman.

A donated underground loader from Northern Star Resources – Pogo Mine will let University of Alaska Fairbanks students train on the same modern equipment they are likely to encounter in their future jobs.

This loader is a perfect fit for students participating in our entry-level course introducing the true and heavy mechanics industry.

Ray Ludwig, UAF CTC advisor and assistant professor for the diesel and heavy equipment program

The Sandvik loader, valued at $85,000, made the 130-mile journey from the Pogo Mine to the program’s headquarters at the Hutchison Institute of Technology in Fairbanks in mid-April. More than a dozen students walked alongside the 52-ton loader as it crawled through the parking lot to the program’s garage.

Read the full article here.

Source: UAF news and information. Article by Marimian Grimes, UAF senior public information officer.

Alaska Economic Trends (June 2023)

On the Cover: At the top: an extended da Vinci vessel sealer. Alaska now has 11 da Vinci machines for robotic assisted surgery. The newest was installed at BartlettRegional Hospital in Juneau in May, the first for Southeast. Image © 2019 Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc. Below, the Susitna River near Denali Highway, with Mount Deborah andMount Hayes visible in the distance. Photo courtesy of Flickr user Robb Hannawacker: License.

Liz Brooks, research analyst for the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), examines Where robots are doing work: A long-term global trend and the technology used in Alaska in this month’s edition. While the trending excitement for automation and new technologies promote new opportunities for cost savings, many are concerned about machines replacing workforce personnel. This article explores real-world examples and discusses how and why robotics are on the rise — there are many factors.

The Resilient Mat-Su Borough by DOLWD economist, Neal Fried, unpacks the Mat-Su borough’s unwavering adaptability and 360 degree growth, despite challenges during and post-COVID. From population and available jobs, Mat-Su’s pandemic experience is in a category by itself.

The June edition also outlines 2023 personal income growth and an analysis of Alaska’s economy.

Read the full edition here.

Trends is a nonpartisan, data-driven magazine that covers a variety of economic topics in Alaska.

Source: Alaska Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Research & Analysis

UA construction programs meet students where they are

The construction industry is important to communities all over the state. People can find a job, remain in their hometown, and enjoy the economic security that comes with a sustainable career, and UA is a pipeline for anyone interested in helping build Alaska.

From carpentry to surveying, heavy duty equipment to welding, and civil engineering to project and construction management, these programs range from short-term certificates to four-year degrees and beyond, and all are designed with industry input to provide the skills needed for employment or career advancement.

Watch the video to learn about about career pathways to construction management. To learn more about UA’s construction programs, explore the links below and see what each university has to offer:

University of Alaska Anchorage

University of Alaska Fairbanks

University of Alaska Southeast

Source: UA System Office of Public Affairs, Empower Alaska Campaign.

New seafood career videos available

See all videos here.

Maritime Works, a network of Alaska maritime industry partners, produced video vignettes for those interested in pursuing a technical, vocational, or seafood career in the state. These three-minute videos highlight seafood processing career opportunities as a plant electrician, plant manager, quality assurance technician, and refrigeration technician. The videos provide personal insights into career opportunities within Alaska’s largest manufacturing sector, while increasing awareness of seafood industry jobs.

Read the full article here. Go directly to the video by clicking here.

Source: Alaska Sea Grant. Full article by Caleb Taylor, ASG seafood workforce coordinator.

Kinross establishes new scholarship at record-breaking Blue & Gold event

Above: UAF Chancellor Dan White stands with Anna Atchison, Terence Watungwa and Brenna Schaake from Kinross Alaska at the Blue & Gold Celebration on Thursday, May 11, 2023. UAF photo by Eric Engman.

Donors at last week’s University of Alaska Fairbanks Blue & Gold Celebration contributed more than $435,000 in support of student scholarships.
 
The total includes a $350,000 gift from Kinross Alaska to establish the Kinross Alaska Future Leaders Endowed Scholarship. The endowment will provide up to four years of financial support for vocational and baccalaureate students who are historically underrepresented in the resource development industry.
 
It’s the first scholarship of its kind at UAF.

Read the full article here.

Source: UAF news and information. Article by Marimian Grimes, UAF senior public information officer.