Education
BY HANNAH JOHNSON
UNT Frisco integrates project learning with industry partners
Collin College secures Toyota, Lexus programs Collin College o cials have completed all requirements needed for a training partnership with Toyota. The certi ed Toyota and Lexus Technician Training and Education Network, or T TEN, program develops manufacturer-certi ed techni- cians in automotive dealerships across the United States, according to a Collin College news release. The college system’s training partnership with Toyota launched in fall 2023, and college o cials completed the certi cation process this year. “Achieving full compliance for the Toyota and Lexus T TEN program is a pivotal milestone,” said Neil Matkin, Collin College district president, in the release. About the program Students undergoing the T TEN program can earn technician training certi cations from the
Collin College leaders OK budget, pay raises Collin College sta can expect a 4% raise in scal year 2025-26. The college’s board of trustees unan- imously approved a budget of $437.44 million and increased base salaries by 4% during an Aug. 26 board meeting. The FY 2025-26 budget includes $434.26 million in revenue and $437.44 million in proposed expenses. Diving in deeper College o cials completed a review of peer and local market salary data through the Texas Association of School Boards for the college’s pay system. As a result, base salaries for sta members and new hire faculty will be increased by 4%. The pay increases will cost $7.1 million and are included in the 2025-26 budget.
AGWInsights, a Frisco-based company that provides companies with digital coaching plat- forms. In the partnership, students went through a discovery research process for the company and have since created a recommendation for a company product. The partnership is bene cial for students as they take the learning out of the classroom and can work hands-on in a project, Sanders said. The program also creates a pathway for students when applying for jobs post-college, he said. “They’re graduating with three high-level internships as well as a plethora of conceptual knowledge, project management, design thinking and data analytics,” Sanders said. “It puts them in a space to have a really robust resume and
Students at the University of North Texas Frisco campus have the opportunity to work with indus- try partners while in an undergraduate program. Housed at UNT Frisco, the Project Design and Analysis Degree is a three-year program in which students are tasked with doing a semester-long project each academic term, said Kevin Sanders, director of co-curricular student services for project based learning. Students work directly with local industry partners by completing various projects for the organizations throughout the program. In addition to their coursework, students must complete high-level internships every year, he said. “[Frisco is a] hub for student and industry intersection,” Sanders said. About the program The program is integrated in nature through project management, Sanders said. Currently, students are working with
Career paths
Graduating with a degree in Project Design and Analysis can help a student qualify for high demand jobs including:
• Brand manager • Business analyst • Project manager • Social media marketer
• Solutions architect • User experience architect
Representatives of Toyota and Collin College celebrated the completion of the certi cation requirements in July.
COURTESY COLLIN COLLEGE
National Institute for Automotive Service Excel- lence, Toyota and Lexus, the release stated. Students can also earn an associate of applied science degree in automotive technology through the T TEN Track at Collin College. Collin College students can also earn an enhanced skills certi cate through the Toyota Collision Repair and Re nishing Elite Training program. Once completed, students are certi ed to work in authorized Toyota and Lexus collision centers, the release states.
SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITY IMPACT
Students can become familiar with workplace dynamics and understand how to work within a collaborative team. The rst few years in the workplace may not rely on conceptual skills, Sanders said, but rather soft or marketable skills such as critical thinking, program management, professional communica- tion and analytical skills.
portfolio.” The results
The degree program gives students a leg-up when it comes to the workplace, Sanders said.
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