In a move to empower its staff, the City of San Diego has forged educational partnerships with institutions such as the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies and the Rady School of Management, offering city employees a chance to advance their education with free and discounted tuition. The collaboration is set to last five years and includes up to five tuition fellowships per year for select city employees to enroll in Flex MBA programs at the Rady School, said Dean Lisa Ordóñez in a statement, as per UCSD News.
Hugo Villar, Dean of the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, expressed his support for the initiative, adding that the city employees will have access to a range of quality courses and certificate programs that are expected to be instrumental in meeting the community's needs, "Our flexible program formats and expert instruction, designed with working professionals in mind, will empower city employees to advance their careers and contribute to a thriving San Diego," Villar told UCSD News. The initiative comes as a response to an internal survey where 48% of more than 12,000 surveyed city employees showed interest in pursuing further education and certifications.
National University and the San Diego College of Continuing Education are also part of these educational ventures; this expansion of opportunities is tailored to combat the barriers to education and professional development that were highlighted by the city's workforce, as Christina Bibler, Director of the Economic Development Department, emphasized in a Hoodline interview. In line with the city’s economic development strategy, the National University offers a 25% discount on undergraduate programs, and the San Diego College of Continuing Education presents a no-cost option for city employees to grow professionally.
