James July-August 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 41
s the No. 1 state
for business, Georgia depends on
a strong, skilled
workforce— and
the Technical
College System
of Georgia (TCSG) is delivering on
that promise. With a comprehensive
approach to workforce development, TCSG prepares individuals
for high-demand careers through
technical education, adult education,
customized industry training, career
services, and economic development
initiatives. With 88 campuses, 35 career centers, and three cutting-edge
Quick Start training centers, TCSG
ensures access to talent and training
in every part of the state. Whether
you’re a student seeking a career or
a company looking to grow, opportunity is never out of reach in Georgia.
In 2024, 148,746 students enrolled across our colleges, the highest total since 2013. This represents
a 9.3% increase from the previous
year and reflects a growing awareness that technical education is one
of the most effective and efficient
paths to meaningful employment
and career advancement. This surge
in enrollment isn’t just a number—it’s
a signal that more Georgians are
seeing value in shorter-term, workforce-focused credentials that get
them into in-demand jobs faster.
This past year, TCSG celebrated
its largest graduating class in history
with 40,451 graduates. Even more
impressive, we achieved a 92 percent in-field job placement rate— our
highest ever. That means nearly all
our students are securing employment directly aligned with their field
of study, providing a strong return on
investment for students and ensuring Georgia’s industries are getting
job-ready talent.
At TCSG, we stay closely aligned
with the needs of Georgia’s workforce. High-demand programs now
account for nearly one quarter of our
total enrollment, and several sectors
are seeing double-digit growth. These
include cybersecurity, nursing, manufacturing, automotive and aviation.
This is a testament to the responsiveness of our colleges and the relevance
of our programs. Every TCSG college
works with advisory boards made
up of industry leaders to ensure that
curriculum remains current, relevant
and connected to real jobs.
A key element of our strategy is
the HOPE Career Grant— a powerful
workforce initiative that provides
free tuition for students pursuing
careers in Georgia’s most critical
industries. This grant covers tuition
in 18 high-demand fields, including
Automotive and Diesel Technology,
Aviation Maintenance, Commercial
Truck Driving, Cybersecurity, Health-
care, Logistics, and Manufacturing.
By removing the financial barrier to
education, the HOPE Career Grant is
helping thousands of Georgians train
for good-paying, stable jobs—and
helping employers fill vacancies with
qualified workers.
Thanks to Gov. Brian Kemp,
Georgia launched the GEORGIA
MATCH initiative, a first-of-its-kind
statewide direct college admissions
program that simplifies the pathway
from high school to college. Since its
implementation, TCSG has seen a
26 percent increase in applications—
a clear indication that GEORGIA
MATCH is driving more students
toward technical education and the
promise of a rewarding career.
Our success is also built on partnerships across education systems,
industries, and communities. TCSG
continues to expand articulation
agreements to ensure students have
options to transfer and continue their
education. We maintain 22 articulation pathways with the Georgia
Department of Education.
Thirty eight of our general
education courses transfer to University System of Georgia (USG)
institutions, 11 of our associate degrees are fully transferable to USG
schools, and our colleges hold 854
one-to-one articulation agreements
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