Academic Partnership, Leadership Training Aim to Grow Students’ Careers
Professional development classes for area employees begin in August at UMass Lowell's Innovation Hub in Haverhill.
12/04/2014
Media contacts: Emily Gowdey-Backus, director of media relations, and Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations
Companies that are members of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce now have increased access to educational courses and professional development opportunities through UMass Lowell, thanks to a new collaboration between the university and the chamber.
UMass Lowell and the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce have formed the Strategic Academic Partnership initiative through UMass Lowell’s Corporate Education office. The agreement provides a tuition discount for direct employees of chamber members who enroll in degree, certificate or individual credit-bearing courses offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies at UMass Lowell.
“We are excited to partner with the Greater Haverhill Chamber to drive value for their members looking to earn a degree, pursue a certificate or complete an individual course,” said Katja Wald, director of corporate partnerships at UMass Lowell. “Our flexible programs for working adults are built for success and we look forward to working with Haverhill Chamber members to provide them affordable, accelerated, career-focused education programs."
UMass Lowell has also launched new Leadership Development Training, a six-week program beginning in August at the Innovation Hub Haverhill, to strengthen employees’ leadership skills, build strong teams, and prepare managers to be effective leaders in today’s evolving workforce.
While the Leadership Development Training program is open to all businesses and professionals, employees from Greater Haverhill Chamber member companies will receive a discount on the course fees.
“We are lucky to have such wonderful strategic partners in UMass Lowell who understand that different levels of workforce engagement are paramount to the future success of our region and its businesses,” said Alexandria Eberhardt, president of the Greater Haverhill Chamber. “By connecting businesses with different opportunities of continued learning – such as the Leadership Development Training and the signed Strategic Academic Partnership – we are emphasizing the importance of professional development and higher education for current and future employees.”
The leadership series includes courses on addressing conflict; communication skills; professional accountability; giving and receiving feedback; building value through diversity, equity and inclusion; and time management and delegation. Current and emerging managers who want to build their skills are encouraged to sign up for a course or the full series. Those who complete the series will earn a UMass Lowell digital badge credential.
Learn more about the leadership series on the GPS website.
The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create equitable economic development across the Merrimack Valley region and the state of MA. The Chamber does this through business advocacy, small business support, marketing the city and region, partnering with institutes of higher education, and convening different parts of the economic ecosystem to build a sustainable and forward moving economy.
Massachusetts’ top public university, UMass Lowell is a national research university in the heart of a Gateway city. The university offers its students bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. UMass Lowell delivers high-quality educational programs, vigorous hands-on learning and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepares graduates to be leaders in their communities and around the globe. www.uml.edu