Tri-Agency Partners Host Third Annual “Texas Internship Challenge” and Welcome New Employers
Date: July 22, 2019
Media Contact: Cisco Gamrz
Phone: 512-463-8556
TWC, TEA and THECB Partner with Texas Industries to Connect Employers and Students
AUSTIN ⎯ Texas’ Tri-Agency partners met today in Austin with industry and education stakeholders to continue the “Texas Internship Challenge,” a statewide campaign to increase and promote internships for students in Texas. Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chair Ruth Hughs, Texas Commissioner of Education (TEA ) Mike Morath, Texas Commissioner of Higher Education (THECB ) Raymund Paredes and TWC Labor Commissioner Julian Alvarez were joined by executives and interns from Amazon, Accenture, Lockheed Martin Corporation, IBM, Home Depot among other industry and education leaders to discuss best practices for further internship expansion strategies, and listen to ways successful organizations expand outreach.
“I encourage employers to join the Texas Internship Challenge and provide our future workforce with opportunities to explore the broad range of occupations available to them in the Texas economy,” said TWC Chair and Commissioner Representing Employers Ruth R. Hughs. “Through this renewed commitment to the Texas Internship Challenge, employers are taking proactive steps to provide hands-on training and develop a talent-pipeline that will move Texas closer to closing the skills-gap.”
The Texas Internship Challenge is a partnership between the Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The Texas Internship Challenge charges industry and employer partners to offer multiple paid internships or for-credit opportunities to Texas high school and college students—and in turn make these internships easily accessible to Texas students through the website www.TXInternshipChallenge.com.
“Through the Texas Internship Challenge we are bridging the gap between classrooms and the workforce and preparing students for career options with real world experience,” said Commissioner of Education Mike Morath.
“Working with the business community to create more paid internship opportunities is one of the most promising strategies we can offer for students. This is especially true for the more than 60 percent of students in Texas who come from low-income families. Many students in Texas have to earn income to make their way through college. Providing paid learning opportunities for these students is critical,” said Commissioner of Higher Education Raymund Paredes. “Internships support two of the four goals of the state’s strategic plan for higher education, 60x30TX: ensuring that students gain identified marketable skills and manage their student debt.”
“Connecting students with employers seeking interns is essential to maintaining our robust and skilled workforce,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Julian Alvarez. “Through the Texas Internship Challenge, students gain valuable skills, experience and are set up for success in their future careers. I encourage Texans to help us meet the challenge.”
TWC, TEA and THECB encourage internship programs as a bridge for students to explore in-demand industries and occupations. Students will benefit from mentoring, career guidance, identification of marketable skills and learn about high-demand occupations. Employers will benefit from the opportunity to explore candidates for full-time recruitment and leverage the developing skill sets and perspectives of students, while also highlighting careers in their industries.
###mmh
The Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and the services it offers in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 512-463-8942 or visit www.texasworkforce.org. To receive notifications about TWC programs and services subscribe to our email updates.
Tri-Agency Initiative media contacts:
Cisco Gamez – Texas Workforce Commission
512-463-8556
Cisco.Gamez@twc.texas.gov
Melissa Holmes – Texas Education Agency
512-463-9000
Melissa.Holmes@tea.texas.gov
Kelly Carper Polden – Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
512-427-6119
Kelly.Polden@thecb.state.tx.us
