Group Compiles List of Oil, Gas Training Programs
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Training programs at Youngstown State University, Eastern Gateway Community College and career and technical centers serving Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties are among programs the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program has identified as industry approved.
“The oil and gas industry wants to hire Ohioans. And to help make the connection between the classroom and workplace, we have diligently been working with educational institutions around the state to certify that they are providing industry specific training so these students can be hired,” said Rhonda Reda, OOGEEP executive director. “By providing this list, we want to help prevent Ohioans from being misled by programs that call themselves oil and gas training programs but are nothing more than a few safety courses.”
The Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP) identified programs at more than 70 different colleges, universities, career centers and technical schools. The list is available at OOGEEP’s website. Following an economic impact study in 2011 indicating that the oil and gas industry would employ more than 200,000 Ohioans, industry representatives requested the organization identify schools that have the appropriate training
“The information on our redesigned website also allows individuals to search for typical job titles in the oil and gas industry which then offers fact sheets for each job title and the educational institutions that provide qualified training for that job,” said Charlie Dixon, OOGEEP’s safety and workforce administrator. “This list will continue to grow as more training facilities and educational institutions expand or introduce these programs.”
Area educational institutions offering industry-approved training include YSU, Eastern Gateway, Columbiana County Career and Technical Center, Kent State University, Mahoning County Career & Technical Center, Trumbull Career & Technical Center and University of Akron.
“The oil and gas companies that are doing business in Ohio want to hire qualified local individuals to work in this expanding industry. We hope the workforce career and training information on our website will make it easier for individuals to connect their career goals to their education planning,” Reda said. “OOGEEP is also working with K-12 schools in all 88 Ohio counties to help educate them on the industry as well as to provide career connections and scholarship opportunities.”
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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