Dive Brief:

• Interplay Learning is expanding its training course catalog to help facilities maintenance departments at universities boost the productivity of their technicians and provide career advancement within university systems.
• The catalog will now include courses on commercial wiring troubleshooting and commercial boilers in addition to 500 hours of existing topics like HVAC, plumbing, electrical services, safety, commercial and general maintenance topics, the Austin-based skilled trades training provider said in a news release Tuesday. Users can access the catalog through Interplay’s recently launched mobile app, per the release.
• The initiative aims to provide a clear training direction that will enhance technical skills within the existing workforce at a time of siloed departments, low employee morale, high turnover, retiring seasoned technicians and project backlogs due to high outsourcing costs, Interplay Learning said. 

Dive Insight:

Interplay Learning says it provides scalable training solutions, real-time reporting capabilities and “robust career development pathways” that can drive universities to cultivate a skilled, safe and productive workforce. Its training platform, SkillMill, aims to provide rapid upskilling and prepare new technicians to be job-ready in weeks, rather than years, per the release. Existing courses provided through the platform include those on HVAC ducting and airflow, and an introduction to chillers, according to the company website. 

Leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality, its approach hinges on its use of 3D capabilities that can provide hands-on learning experiences in a virtual environment. Institutions like the University of Minnesota are already using these technologies to train roughly 100 full-time mechanics and custodial supervisors on campus, the company said. 

"Our vision is to develop a future for the mechanics within our organization," Farrukh Bashir, associate director facilities management at the University of Minnesota, said in a statement. "By investing in our staff's development, we're enhancing retention efforts and fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth within our organization."

Through tailored career development efforts and customized training for all skill levels, maintenance technicians will be empowered to take on a broader range of tasks and projects across university campuses, reducing outsourcing needs and minimizing project delays, Interplay Learning said. 

"As the demand for skilled technicians grows, it's clear that career advancement and development opportunities are becoming increasingly important," Interplay Learning founder and CEO Doug Donovan said in a statement. The company’s course development efforts will help its university customers boost employee morale and reduce turnover rates through workforce development and upskilling, Donovan said. 

Interplay Learning has also been providing services to K-12 schools. In March, the Pryor High School Innovation Center in Pryor, Oklahoma, said it is using the company’s training platform to run a new HVAC pre-apprenticeship program, where high school seniors would collect U.S. Department of Labor-approved apprenticeship hours and prepare for exams required to obtain industry certifications.