Volvo Cars Signs Partnership Agreement with ECPI University

Volvo Cars Signs Partnership Agreement with ECPI University

ECPI University is pleased to announce a new partnership with Volvo Cars to help train and educate team members at its Ridgeville, South Carolina, production facility.  The company’s 1,600-acre site currently produces the S60 sport sedan and will add a second vehicle, the XC90 SUV, in 2022. At the moment, the plant employs approximately 1,400 people, but that number is expected to soar to nearly 4,000 when all planned production lines are fully operational, with a total output of 150,000 vehicles per year.

By partnering with ECPI University, Volvo Cars is now giving these entry-level employees the opportunity to advance within the company through education. Click To Tweet

As a company, Volvo Cars enjoys a stellar reputation as an employer and community partner, but that alone will not be enough to staff its entire operation. Like many manufacturers, Volvo Cars must deal with a nationwide skills gap. That’s why the company is fully committed to local workforce development. It sponsors STEM-related educational programs, team members are active in workforce development committees/boards, and it will soon be a registered Department of Labor Apprenticeship Sponsor, all to ensure local residents have opportunities to become Volvo Cars Team Members.

Moreover, Volvo Cars has worked with the community to create ManuFirst SC, an entry-level manufacturing certification program designed to give people new to the industry the skills considered equivalent to one year of manufacturing experience. By partnering with ECPI University, Volvo Cars is now giving these entry-level employees the opportunity to advance within the company through education.

“ECPI has a robust program built to support the needed skillsets for Volvo employees and fully prepare them with exposure to the equipment and components that they will be using on the floor.” ~Kimberly Mason, Training Manager, Volvo Cars… Click To Tweet

ECPI University was one of the first schools in the nation to create a Mechatronics program, which blends coursework in electronics, mechanical engineering, and computer information science. These core skill areas serve as the underpinnings for today’s highly-advanced manufacturing environment. This newly-signed agreement will allow Volvo employees and their family members to enroll at any ECPI University campus at a reduced tuition rate, along with waived application and registration fees, and a streamlined registration and enrollment process.

“This partnership serves as a development, engagement, and retention tool for Volvo Cars, but also reflects their commitment to workforce development in the region and state,” says ECPI University Development Manager Kristie Cumbee. “With three campuses across the state, we look forward to seeing many ECPI University alumni wearing the bright orange and blue Volvo uniform in the future!”  

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