Business Applications | ICT-DM Sector

Business Applications Software

There are more than 200,000 jobs available for office professionals in California each year. These jobs span many different industries, giving students the opportunity to work in a field that interests them. Educators prepare students with the latest business technology skills and industry certifications they need to get hired in an entry-level position or promote in their current job.

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The Business Information Worker (BIW) pathway was developed with employer input and teaches the top skills needed by businesses that employ office professionals. Three pathway stages teach entry-level to advanced administrative skills and prepare students to obtain related industry certifications.

Labor Market Assessment

There is a need for colleges to increase enrollment to meet the demand for office professionals across the state.

Recruitment and retention of students in computer applications/business technology classes can be enhanced by the approaches listed below.

Demand Statewide (Job Openings):

278,700

Estimated Headcount in BIW Courses:

108,752

North/Sacramento Region

Bay Region

Central Region

Los Angeles Region

Orange County Region

South Central Coast Region

San Diego Region

Inland Empire/Desert Region

LATEST NEWS

Start or Expand Your BIW Program

Here are resources to help you start or expand the Business Information Worker program on your campus.

BUSINESS INFORMATION WORKER C-ID

The Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges has endorsed the BIW pathway and recently finalized 22 new descriptors for Office Technology and Business Information Worker. Campuses may now submit courses for C-ID review to determine comparability.

In addition, the faculty discipline review group finalized three Model Curricula for the discipline: a 12-unit BIW Quick Start Certificate, 18-unit BIW I Certificate of Achievement and 30-unit BIW II Certificate of Achievement.

View the C-ID/BIW Crosswalk here

View the Model Curricula and Final Descriptors here

BUSINESS INFORMATION WORKER COHORTS

While many students are currently enrolled in courses aligned with the BIW pathway, most of them don’t know it. Without learning of the pathway’s value to their future employment and without support for their efforts, these students may not continue and represent part of the 70% of California Community College students who only stay in school for less than a year.

The ICT-Digital Media Sector team has worked with several colleges to build BIW student cohorts. This effort has resulted in a greater number of students completing the pathway with sustainable community-based cohort support.

Instructors and administrators are encouraged to contact their local Deputy Sector Navigator to learn more about developing a BIW cohort on campus.

BIW Cohort Resource Guide

BIW Outreach Strategies

Cohort Toolkit Ideas

Sample Landing Page

BUSINESS INFORMATION WORKER COLLATERAL

BIW Trifold for Students

BIW Flyer for Students

Digital Badge Poster

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

BIW Cross-Disciplinary Certificates at College of the Desert

Watch our recent ICT Educator Webinar to learn how Instructor Pablo Romero at College of the Desert has taken their Business Information Worker program to a new level. Learn how he helped to create 3 new cross-disciplinary Business Information Specialist certificates – Legal Office Specialist, Marketing Specialist and Medical Office Specialist – and how COD secured an internship for students in the Medical Office Specialist program.

Watch Here