Fast Facts

•  The Student Excellence Program offers participants tools, equipment and tool storage at significantly reduced pricing
• Snap-on’s team of education specialists serve more than  800 technical colleges and 2,000 technical high schools
•  Nationally recognized Snap-on training programs offer training certifications  for community college students
• Snap-on executives participate in dozens of national, state and local organizations in support of technical education

Snap-On Education Partnership Program: An Introduction

Snap-On Inc., a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools and equipment, has been involved in technical education efforts for over 50 years. Starting in 2006, those efforts increased dramatically as Snap-on began offering curriculum-based product certifications to technical college students through partnerships with educational institutions around the country. Amplifying technical education to build America's workforce skills is a key corporate foscus of Snap-on. Snap-on is also a founding partner of the National Coalition for Certification Centers (NC3) and contributes over $1 million to annual scholarships and various education or industry foundations and associations to promote workforce training efforts.

The Program

The Snap-on Certificate Program is a result of conversations with industry leaders and technical college administrators. Industry's needs and the fundamental skills and tools required to address these needs were developed into training programs. NC3 and their member community colleges actively share ideas and curriculum and lead other colleges through their partnership with Snap-on.

While initial product certifications were for automobile diagnostic scanners, the Snap-on Certificate Program has grown to include certifications pertinent to multiple discplines. For instance, Electrical Measurement (multimeter) and Torque (mechanical and electronic torque instruments) certifications are being offered at technical colleges with porgrams in aviation or energy. Each certificatoion is additive and incremental, and is aimed at developing proficiency in using a particular type of tool or equipment. Snap-on has a team of more that 30 dedicated education specialists that serve technical education partner schools exclusively. Snap-on also has more than 200 representatives supporting more than 800 technical colleges and 2,000 technical high schools.

How the Partnership Works

The primary partnership model, Snap-on Certification, is a growing suite of training programs related to industry needs. This is a national program reaching more than 60 institutions, typically focussing on community colleges with automotive programs. Curriculum and testing for these certifications are developed and administered by NC3, a coalition of 25 community colleges, businesses and other partners.

Snap-on coordinates the partner institutions acquisition of training packages that include curriculum, tools, lab materials and access to an online testing site. Once students successfully complete the assigned labs, they take an online test. Upon successful completion of the test, students receive a third-party certificate from Snap-on, a globally recognized brand.

In addition to the certification program, the Snap-on Student Excellence Program offers students, currently enrolled at a technical institution, tools, equipment and tool storage at significantly reduced pricing to help future technicians pursue their chosen technical career.

In some instances, Snap-on has supplied equipment, tools and tool storage to the certification partner schools that are creating a unique space at the college to train incumbent workers who are looking to retrain for a new career or to build on their current skill level to improve advancement opportunities. 

Snap-on has also worked closely with NC3 to develop and improve the support offered to partner schools. College instructors attend “train the trainer” events held by NC3, where they are taught standardized approaches on how to train their students, ensuring curriculum is delivered in a consistent format nationwide.

Benefits

By partnering with Snap-on, technical colleges of all sizes are able to take advantage of a global corporation with unique, first-hand knowledge of the skills required by industry. These skills can be found in industries such as automotive, aviation, oil and gas, and manufacturing. Community college partners also benefit by being able to purchase tools, tools storage and equipment at significantly reduced education pricing.

In addition to improving the quality of tomorrow’s workforce by increasing the number of qualified technicians across the country, a long-term benefit for Snap-on is the relationship created with students who advance to become employed technicians, familiar with Snap-on products. 

Finally, participating students benefit by having access to the most up-to-date equipment and tools used by professionals in the industry. Additionally, by owning professional grade tools, purchased at student pricing, students are able to show serious commitment to their chosen profession. Third party certifications also benefit the student by providing proof of transferable skills, improving their chances for employment and paving the way for higher wages.

Results

The Student Excellence Program touches more than 35,000 students each year. In its first couple years of rollout, the Snap-on Certification program has certified 4,000 students, 400 technical college instructors and 150 high school instructors. Projected 2012 certifications include an additional 3,000 students and instructors.

Snap-on is looking to grow this model by working with schools that provide training in aviation, energy and manufacturing programs. Snap-on plans to partner with hundreds of technical colleges in order to deliver tens of thousands of certifications across the nation and then begin to work with high schools local to those colleges.

Skills for America's Future (SAF) is a non-partisan, employer-led initiative of the Aspen Institute. It is focused on creating a national network of partnerships among employers, community colleges, industry associations and other stakeholders. These partnerships are designed to ensure that American workers receive the necessary training to meet the skill needs of employers, giving them the opporunity to obtain and keep good jobs.

For more information about how your company can partner with community colleges and Skills for America's Future, contact Rene Bryce-Laporte at rene.bryce-laporte@aspeninst.org