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HCC, National Fluid Power Association sign training agreement
Sep 9, 2024
Houston Community College (HCC) and representatives of the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) through which the college will serve as a Fast Track to Fluid Power Hub to help train the next generation of trained workforce candidates for the fluid power industry.
The NFPA is a trade association focused on strengthening the hydraulics and pneumatics industry. With more than 300 fluid power manufacturers, distributors and suppliers in its membership, NFPA works to advance fluid power education, technology and the industry as a whole.
“We are excited to bring HCC on as NFPA’s Fifth Fast Track Hub,” said Eric Lanke, NFPA’s President and CEO. “We have a high concentration of members in Texas. They are motivated to grow the number of students educated in fluid power and connect them to careers in the industry. The Fast Track to Fluid Power program gives students a direct connection to their local fluid power workforce.”
A brief ceremony and tour will be held at HCC ‘s Stafford Workforce building, 13622 Stafford Road, Stafford, TX, from 10 a.m. to noon on Sept. 17. The event will provide students, community members, and NFPA members an opportunity to learn more about HCC’s Manufacturing training programs and the fluid power training provided at HCC. Fluid power training is part of the current Industrial Maintenance Technician certificate program at HCC.
Objectives of the partnership and HCC’s status as a Fast Track to Fluid Power Hub are to promote fluid power career pathways for high school students, incorporate NFPA-approved curriculum into current training, provide hands-on training with industry-standard equipment, offer industry certification opportunities to students, and create a pipeline of skilled workers for local NFPA members, increasing the number of qualified technicians with job-ready skills in fluid power for the local workforce.
“Our affiliation with NFPA aligns will with our existing curriculum,” said Albert Urbina, vice president of instruction and student services. “It expands the educational opportunities we can provide local residents and opens a pathway to a meaningful career.”
“This new partnership helps enable HCC to deliver on its promise to provide current, relevant training for meaningful, in-demand careers to the students of our service area,” said HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher, Ed.D. “We welcome this opportunity to work with NFPA in training the technicians that will help our local employers.”