Community colleges offering free summer training – careers include esports, tech, more

Free summer training classes are now available for sign up through the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges’ Good Jobs Hawaiʻi initiative.

These training programs offer individuals the chance to upskill and attain industry certifications, opening doors to employment opportunities, paid internships and apprenticeship pathways.

Registration is now open for a variety of online and in-person classes with varying durations though goodjobshawaii.org.

Trainings that will be offered starting in May 2024 include:

• Creative Industry jobs: Introduction to esports careers and digital art fundamentals
• Technology jobs: Help desk technician prep, CompTIA A+, AI in the workplace and AWS cloud certifications
• Clean Energy and Skilled Trade jobs: Carpenter pre-apprenticeship, renewable energy and commercial driver’s license
• Healthcare jobs: Certified personal trainer, certified nurse aide and medical assisting
• City & County of Honolulu jobs: Police Academy prep, certification in court interpreter training, Microsoft Office and plant propagation for nursery workers

Since the launch of Good Jobs Hawai‘i in 2023, more than 4,000 residents throughout the state have enrolled in free training offered through the program.

“The Good Jobs Hawai‘i initiative is focused on ensuring our state’s economic future has a skilled and local workforce ready to meet the demands of our high-growth industries,” said Erika Lacro, vice president for UH Community Colleges. “These free training classes being offered to Hawaiʻi residents provide an invaluable opportunity to upskill, paving the way for a successful future filled with promising career prospects.”

More than $3 million in funding is available from various funding sources for tuition. Eligible applicants receive tuition assistance for courses and other training costs such as industry certification exam fees. The Good Jobs Hawai‘i program is free for most eligible participants, since many of the trainings provide a 100% tuition subsidy to cover all costs.

In addition to the free tuition, each participant is also supported by a Good Jobs Hawai‘i navigator, who provides one-on-one support to ensure a student’s success. Their services include offering college and career advising, referring to community partners for support services, facilitating connections to employers and providing various forms of financial assistance.

To apply online for current training or to learn more visit Good Jobs Hawaiʻi.