Community Education
and Economic Development

Continuing Education

Continuing Education and Economic Development at Midlands Technical College play a vital and major role in the Midlands. Working with business, industry and government, Continuing Education provides cost-effective, results-oriented training that keeps the regions’ employees competitive in a fast-paced economy that demands constant knowledge, skills and technology updates.

Midlands Technical College Continuing Education is one of the largest and most comprehensive programs of its kind among all two-year colleges in the Southeast, serving more than 30,000 students each year in a variety of professional and personal development programs. Short courses, seminars, workshops, conferences, apprenticeships and certificate programs are offered year round. On-line courses are also available and are increasingly utilized by those beyond the Midlands to further skills and satisfy licensing requirements.

Continuing Education additionally works with government and hundreds of businesses and service organizations in the Midlands each year presenting award winning programs that help companies excel in such arenas as customer service, leadership and employee development. As more manufacturing, industrial and service firms locate or expand in the Central Midlands, the college responds with an increasingly complex array of specially designed courses to meet the needs of local employers. Continuing Education is a rapid-response unit that can pair economic development need with local expertise to deliver necessary training. Content experts and consultants from the college work hand–in-hand with company leaders to identify needs and implement training solutions.

National partnerships with outstanding industry leaders such as Microsoft, HAAS, WorkKeys, DDI, the American Management Association and GE Fanuc allow the college to provide the edge to students and to businesses by offering the newest programs available anywhere.

Midlands Technical College Continuing Education offers many courses and certifications that can be completed in a shorter time frame than more conventional education formats, giving students the opportunity for quicker career development or advancement. Continuing education students can prepare for such diverse careers as financial manager, database administrator, massage therapist, industrial maintenance technician, interior designer, cardiovascular sonographer and dozens more.  Students can also increase their management and leadership skills in an array of courses that challenge them to become better team players, managers, supervisors, and leaders in their organizations.

Stimulating small business development is also a part of continuing education. The college, in conjunction with major local and national partners, offers potential entrepreneurs a comprehensive program that helps with business planning, development, and networking. Tax workshops for the small business are also offered and co-sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service.

Information technology is a major curriculum component in continuing education at Midlands Technical College and has been for the past 20 years. Providing computer training to thousands of individuals in public classes and in customized courses for business, the college uses state-of-the-art technology to offer the latest software packages, ranging from basic desktop applications to database administration, programming, web design and high-end Microsoft and Oracle certifications. Hardware maintenance, networking and security courses give students additional career paths and career advancement.

Helping business and industry build workplace skills that improve quality, productivity and profitability is an integral part of continuing education. The Center for Quality at Midlands Technical College has rapidly become a nationally recognized leader in providing training and consulting services to organizations in healthcare, finance, service and manufacturing throughout the Southeast and beyond. The Center offers open enrollment training throughout the year and provides on-site training and consulting on request. The Center addresses such areas as Six Sigma, implementing quality systems, conducting measurement system assessments, conducting design of experiments, providing statistical analysis assistance, and resolving supplier quality issues.

In addition to The Center for Quality, continuing education also houses the Advanced Manufacturing Center that provides training in design, prototype, programming, lathe, mill, CNC, inspection and other manufacturing services. With state-of-the-art equipment and production consultants, The Center is ready to assist companies with development and manufacturing methodologies.

Specialty courses and programs offered through continuing education lead to careers and career advancement in construction and industrial maintenance. Partnerships allow students also to participate in registered apprenticeships that are advantageous to student and employer alike.

A Testing and Assessment Center offers students the opportunity to take computerized exams to qualify for certification in several professions and to have their skills assessed in Microsoft Office Applications and in WorkKeys. The Center continues to expand to meet the demands of students and employers in the Midlands.

Health and human service professionals also look to Midlands Technical College to satisfy their annual continuing education re-licensing requirements. State and national accreditation boards designate the college as an approved provider of continuing education for social workers, counselors, long-term care administrators and nurses. Courses are offered throughout the year and on-line to help professionals meet their needs.

Courses and programs of study that help individuals to pursue leisure interests are also an important part of continuing education and bring many students to the college. A solid slate of successful and continual offerings include such areas as digital photography, fiction writing, cake decorating, wedding planning, money management, Spanish, floral arranging, golf, sewing and cooking classes. Students who pursue leisure interest courses through continuing education are increasingly finding that personal interests may help them develop a new or second bonus career.

Classes are small in continuing education and individuals get maximum attention in courses. Expert faculty are chosen for their subject matter knowledge and for their real life experience – bringing practicality to the classroom along with information. Instructors also understand the adult learner and apply principles that encourage interaction and engaged learning from everyone. The best possible learning environment is created for continuing education classes whether they are offered at one of the four campuses available or off-campus at a business site in a customized training program. Education is hands-on and participant centered.

Continuing Education offers diverse programs to a wide range of Midlands residents and organizations to promote and support individual, community and economic development.