Oklahoma CareerTech is upgrading its online platform that connects students and businesses.
CareerTech is working with the Oklahoma State Department of Education to upgrade Connect 2 Business, a component of OK Career Guide that allows students and adults to find career opportunities ranging from job shadowing to full-time employment. The revamped platform will be available to all Oklahoma school districts beginning Feb. 15.
Connect 2 Business can help Oklahoma businesses find workers and can help students and adults find internships, apprenticeships and part-time and full-time employment.
In addition, high school students can use the platform to fulfill part of an Individual Career Academic Planning graduation requirement. The Oklahoma State Department of Education launched the ICAP graduation requirement in 2019. As part of it, Oklahoma high school students must complete a service learning or work environment activity before graduation.
In many parts of the state, those opportunities can be hard to find, however, said Shawna Nord, counseling and career development manager at Oklahoma CareerTech. Connect 2 Business provides a bridge between education and business to help students locate those opportunities, she explained.
Teachers at K-12 schools and technology centers can also benefit from Connect 2 Business. The platform can help them find community business leaders to speak to classes or student organizations about specific industries.
Local businesses will benefit from Connect 2 Business because it will allow them to reach potential employees and fill job openings. Business owners can create custom profiles, post opportunities, track views and user interest in their posts.
“Our goal with Connect 2 Business is to begin building that connection between education and industry and to reinvigorate the Oklahoma talent pipeline,” Nord said.
They will also be able to further opportunities in their communities by supporting local initiatives and programs, Nord said.
“At this time, our greatest need is getting employers added to the system,” she said. “We are looking at all areas of Oklahoma, from the smallest business to the largest. Our goal is to have Oklahoma students see all the opportunities that our great state offers, especially in their local areas.”
Although the site opens to schools and students on Feb. 15, businesses can register now at https://c2b.kuder.com, Nord said.
“It’s very easy and will walk them through the process with 15 or fewer clicks,” she said.
Oklahoma CareerTech: Education that works for you
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education provides leadership and resources and assures standards of excellence for a comprehensive statewide system of career and technology education. The system offers programs and services in 29 technology center districts operating on 60 campuses, 397 PK-12 school districts, 16 Skills Centers campuses that include three juvenile facilities and 32 adult education and family literacy providers.
The agency is governed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education and works closely with the State Department of Education and the State Regents for Higher Education to provide a seamless educational system for all Oklahomans.