ISAIC Pilots a New Training Program: Advanced Industrial Sewing & Production (AISP) Certification Program
In today's ever-changing job market, a myriad of issues are facing employers and employees. Employers are facing a shortage of highly skilled and knowledgeable workers who are able to meet the demands of the workforce. Investing in a candidate with a traditional educational background can be risky, as often a degree is not a good indicator of performance or ability. From an employee’s perspective; a degree or certificate program can be costly from both a time and finance perspective. Employees are also increasingly looking for career opportunities that offer on-the-job training. A survey from 2021 shows that 80% of employed adults consider an employer’s professional development and training offerings important when looking for a new position.
This is where a badgeable credentialing system comes in. It is a system that certifies competency in a specific skill or process that individuals can gain from a module-like course offering. It can be more flexible for workers, and easier for employers to deploy.
ISAIC’s Advanced Industrial Sewing & Production (AISP) Certification Program is a new program designed to provide standardized, micro-credentialing across the sewn goods industry. This program can be completed in a burst, allowing individuals to take the classes as they need them without committing to a long-term training program or apprenticeship.
The program is designed to live outside of ISAIC’s licensed Fundamentals of Industrial Sewing and Production program and apprenticeship, and individuals can sign up for the sessions without having to go through an extensive application process.
The Advanced Industrial Sewing & Production (AISP) Certification program is being built out over the year and piloted with ISAIC operators. The program will create a badging system that is standardized across industries. The badgeable modules will need to be purchased from a menu of options. Upon completion of the modules, individuals will be able to obtain a badge for an industry-recognized credential and share with an employer in a digital wallet.
To take advantage of the badging system, individuals will need to take FISP, which serves as related technical instruction for the apprenticeship. Without taking FISP, individuals will not be able to obtain certifications. This ensures that individuals have the foundational knowledge and skills to be successful in the industry.
This program will allow individuals to demonstrate their skills and knowledge to employers while remaining flexible, allowing individuals to take classes as needed without committing to a long-term apprenticeship. Overall, badgeable credentialing systems are an excellent way for individuals to enhance their skills and knowledge and advance their careers at their own pace. Employers can also benefit from this program as they can easily identify highly skilled individuals with industry-recognized credentials and make hiring and on-the-job development easier and more targeted.