Four University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges received funding for technology projects that include equipping testing centers, upgrading computer labs and leveraging advanced technologies to engage community members in non-credit financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs. The Pacific Center for Advanced Technology Training (PCATT) awarded technology grants totaling $75,000 to Hawaiʻi CC, Kauaʻi CC, Leeward CC and Windward CC.
“These grants will support non-credit technology courses across the state and bolster the great work that is already being done by the continuing education divisions at the UH Community College System,” says Dan Doerger, PCATT director. “Our goal is to continue to provide learning opportunities that empower our non-credit students to achieve their career goals.”
Campus initiatives include:
- Hawaiʻi CC: iPads and innovative apps to enhance educational opportunities. These tools will support programs in 3D modeling and hands-on learning for middle and high school students, while also providing professional development for Hawai‘i Department of Education teachers to incorporate these technologies into future courses.
- Kauaʻi CC: Apple product classes, refreshing computer labs, and offering Geographic Information Systems (GIS) courses, ensuring the campus can better serve a diverse community.
- Leeward CC: Expanding CompTIA instruction by certifying a Pearson Vue testing facility and upgrading classroom instructional resources.
- Windward CC: Enhancing and expanding its successful entrepreneurship and financial literacy program targeting K–12 students. With updated equipment and increased group work center capacity, the campus will aim to double their outreach, providing students with hands-on experience in creating and marketing their own products, while learning valuable business skills.
PCATT is a consortium of the seven UH Community Colleges dedicated to advancing technology education. It offers a wide array of training programs and resources designed to empower students and professionals to keep pace with the ever-evolving tech industry. PCATT fosters innovation and skill development, preparing individuals for successful careers in technology-driven fields across the Pacific region and beyond.