We sat down with Sandra Bachert, Director of Economic and Workforce Development, to discuss how Oakland Community College (OCC) is adapting to AI-driven change, the importance of hands-on learning, and why “career readiness” is just as vital as technical skill.
Upskilling: Turning Threats into Opportunities
When people hear “robotics” or “AI,” they often think of job displacement. Sandra Bachert sees it differently.
“Routine jobs are being replaced by robots to enable individuals to have higher skills and higher-paying jobs,” Bachert explains. Through non-credit, short-term training programs, OCC focuses on industry-recognized credentials. Whether it’s their PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) or Robotics Technician programs, the goal is to give students a “broad brush” of skills—combining mechanical technology with programming—so they can enter the workforce immediately while continuing their path toward an associate degree.
Staying Relevant Through Industry Partnership
How does a 14-week program stay current? By inviting the employers into the room.
“We pull employers in to look at our curriculum every year or two,” says Bachert. This ensures that the 90 days a student spends in the program acts as a “probationary period” where they gain the exact technical competencies local businesses need. From company tours to guest speakers, the feedback loop between the classroom and the shop floor is constant.
The Power of Hands-On Learning
At OCC, “theory” rarely exists without “practice.” For Bachert, the “niche” is applied experience.
“Very few of our courses don’t have hands-on experience,” Bachert says. Whether it’s applied math or tearing down a physical robot to fix bugs, students are enticed by the opportunity to work on actual equipment. Even in traditional classrooms, simulations ensure that no student enters the workforce without having “done the job” first.
Soft Skills: Building Your Personal Brand
Technical prowess will get you an interview, but “career readiness” gets you the job. OCC emphasizes the “soft skills” that go beyond the screen or the robot. Students are taught to evaluate their personal brand, how to market themselves to employers, and the simple but vital importance of how they “show up” on a daily basis.
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