Industrial Training Assistance

Arkansas offers a wide variety of programs to assist businesses in becoming more productive and competitive through training and education. Several of the most popular programs are described here.

The Arkansas Industry Training Program

The Arkansas Industry Training Program is one of the oldest and most successful customized job-training programs in the nation. Both pre-employment and on-the-job training can be provided.

Outstanding Features of the Pre-employment Program

• There is no commitment on the part of your company except that you locate a facility in Arkansas and work with the state training personnel. All costs of the pre-employment program are borne by the Arkansas Industry Training Program.
• A pre-employment training program is designed specifically for you.
• The Employment Security Department will screen trainees to your specific criteria. You interview and hire only from the graduates that meet your criteria. More than the number you request will be trained. Your firm is not required to offer employment.
• Your training manuals, or manuals developed specifically for you and approved by you, will be used to train on your own equipment or equipment like yours.
• Your foremen or supervisors will be used in the training program if you wish, and you will be reimbursed for their time and travel expense. You can observe, participate, and make recommendations during training by qualified instructors.
• There is no cost to the company.
• You are under no obligation to hire the graduates.

On-the-Job Training Features

• On-the-job training is used if the equipment cannot be installed in a temporary location or when time does not permit pre-employment training.
• Special on-the-job training is also available at any future time when the company upgrades its equipment or technology.

For more information about the Arkansas Industry Training Program, contact the Arkansas Department of Economic Development at (501)682-1121.

Workplace Skills Enhancement Program

The Workplace Skills Enhancement Program (WSEP), in the Institute for Economic Advancement of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Business Administration, was established in 1990 to address the educational needs of working adults.

The purpose of WSEP is to provide information, resources, and services that will assist in providing the training necessary to equip workers for the sweeping changes industry must make to be competitive in the global economy. The program is structured to help working men and women, including those who have been away from formal schooling for some time, to acquire the foundation skills and knowledge necessary to perform effectively on the job and to achieve their goals. The program operates under the philosophy that training and retraining are critical throughout industry if the United States wants a high-wage, high-skill economy. This training includes instruction in these areas:

• The basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics;
• The thinking skills required to learn, to reason, to think creatively, to make decisions, and to solve problems;
• The personal skills necessary to assume individual responsibility, to raise self-esteem, to encourage self-management, and to develop integrity.

Instruction in these skills is within the authentic context of specific jobs. WSEP provides the technical assistance to design and implement workplace education programs and to develop materials and curriculum for them. WSEP services to existing programs include training, consultation, and program evaluation. For more information about WSEP, contact The UALR Institute for Economic Advancement at (501)569-8519.

Management Education Program

The Management Education Program (MEP) is part of the Institute for Economic Advancement, a Division of the College of Business Administration at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The Management Education Program specializes in management development and supervisory training programs. These state-wide programs are designed and implemented for both the public and private sectors. The public programs are on timely issues of the day. The private programs are customized on-site sessions tailored to the needs of your business or organization. MEP's educational programs for executives, administrators, managers, and supervisors can improve the efficiencies of your organization. Topics of expertise include the following:

• Total Quality Management
• AIDS: What Managers and Supervisors Should Know
• Job Safety Analysis
• Violence in the Workplace
• Benchmarking
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• ISO 9000 Series
• Workers compensation
• Writing Business Reports
• Assertive Communication
• Solving People Problems
• Conducting Effective Meetings
• Communication Skills for the Woman Manager
• Basic Management Skills for supervisors and Managers
• Hazard Communications and Compliance
• Stress Management
• Dealing with the Problem Employee and Substance Abuse
• Management Skills for Administrative Assistants and Office Managers
• How to Manage to Improve Performance
• Psychological Profiles
• Strategic Planning
• Building Effective Teams
• Improving Leadership Skills
• Time Management
• Performance Management

For more information about MEP, contact the UALR Institute for Economic Advancement at (501)569-8569.