Hennepin Technical College Corporate Engagement Report

Abstract

Hennepin Technical College (HTC) trains and educates a portion of the work force in Minnesota. The relationship between HTC and businesses is important for closing any projected skills gap in the workforce by graduating well-trained students to fill current and future job vacancies. Best practices have determined that it’s essential to maintain a positive relationship with business partners so that students have a rewarding experience, faculty continue to cultivate external relationships, and corporate partners remain engaged. There is a sentiment within HTC that corporate partners have concerns regarding the decentralized nature of current corporate engagement efforts. The focus of this project is to provide HTC with an opportunity to learn about and further explore what corporate partners want and need. The project will also define current efforts of faculty within a program area, and provide HTC with the opportunity to build consensus on a corporate engagement strategy that fulfills the needs of both their external and internal stakeholders. Recommendations will guide HTC in determining next steps in building their corporate engagement program.