The first cohort of UCO Customized Education’s Workforce Advantage program received their Certificates January 13 at UCO Downtown.

The course teaches soft skills such as adaptability, integrity and effective communication methods to employees and managers seeking to improve their professional image and learn strategies for career advancement.

Through an anonymous post-course survey, one trainee said the program “will help me be a better manager to my co-workers and team member to my fellow managers,” while another person commented that it was a “fantastic class, and I would definitely recommend it to others.”

The new certificate is a direct result of Governor Mary Fallin’s “Oklahoma Works” initiative and is offered in partnership with the State Chamber of Oklahoma.

“The workforce must be developed,” said Karen Youngblood, executive director of Customized Education. “Simply taking the chance to hire another employee is no longer a viable solution. Rather than spending up to 150 percent of an employee’s annual salary to replace them, business leaders can transform their personnel into polished professionals who are valuable assets to their organization.”

The Workforce Advantage Certificate is comprised of three modules: Personal Branding, Relationship Building and Reputation Management. Each one is designed to teach soft skills through learning activities that emphasize practical application, and the initial results demonstrate the viability of this structure.

A new cohort of the Workforce Advantage Certificate begins with Module 1, February 9-10. The training is held at UCO Downtown, located in the Carnegie Center at 131 Dean A. McGee Ave.

To register or learn more about the program, visit ce.uco.edu and click on the “certificates” icon, or call Customized Education at 405-974-3030.

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At the Office of University Communications at the University of Central Oklahoma, we bleed bronze and blue — Pantone 116 and 282, to be exact. The University Communications staff of professionals promotes Central to the community through news releases, media relations, advertising, branding and marketing initiatives, publications and electronic media — and, of course, using the university's official colors (that's the Pantone 116 and 282). We believe the University of Central Oklahoma is a thriving, opportunity-rich institution located in one of the best metropolitan areas in the country with innovative students, faculty and staff who make a difference in our world. It is our pleasure to share the Central story with you.