Quick look: OCDE and UC Irvine are expanding a registered apprenticeship partnership that provides paid, hands-on experience for college students. Through OC Pathways, 36 UC Irvine students are currently participating across two programs, contributing to a countywide network of nearly 100 apprentices supported by 24 employer partners.
A growing partnership between the Orange County Department of Education and the University of California, Irvine is providing students with paid, hands-on experience while helping strengthen the region’s future workforce.
Through OCDE’s OC Pathways program, UC Irvine is an early partner in a nontraditional apprenticeship model designed to connect education with real-world career training. Since launching in 2025, the collaboration has expanded to include dozens of student apprentices working across campus departments.
“The Orange County Department of Education has a nontraditional apprenticeship program, and one of our first partners that we’ve had is UC Irvine,” said Evan Forster, a coordinator with OCDE’s Career Education and Workforce Development team.
OC Pathways currently partners with 24 organizations and supports nearly 100 student apprentices across Orange County. At UC Irvine, 36 students are participating in apprenticeship programs through the Division of Career Pathways and the Claire Trevor School of the Arts.
The initiative builds on UC Irvine’s longstanding use of student employees by adding structure, mentorship and industry-recognized credentials through registered apprenticeships.
“For many years, we have had student staff at the Division of Career Pathways,” said Suzanne Helbig, associate vice provost for UC Irvine’s Division of Career Pathways, “We saw this as an opportunity to further support those students.”
Unlike traditional internships, apprenticeships offer paid, on-the-job training combined with skill development aligned to specific career pathways. OCDE serves as the registered sponsor, working with partners to ensure programs meet state and federal standards.
“This really gives students of UC Irvine experience with on-the-job training, direct instruction, and they’re also getting paid while participating,” Forster said.
Building skills through real-world experience
Alina Yuan, a senior majoring in art and psychological science at UC Irvine, is one of the students benefiting from the program. As a marketing student assistant in the Division of Career Pathways, she creates promotional materials and supports outreach efforts to connect students with career resources.
“My main responsibilities are to design flyers, posters and different materials for students to understand our workshops and events,” Yuan said. “I also work on social media to promote these events to our students.”
Yuan said the experience has strengthened both her technical and professional skills, from design platforms like Adobe Illustrator and Canva to communication and collaboration in a workplace setting.
“I’ve learned how important it is to build connections while also communicating clearly and accurately,” she said. “You’re learning how to develop professionally while having that personalization.”
Her work has also made an impact on the Division of Career Pathways team.
“Alina is amazing,” Helbig said. “She elevates our marketing. She brings the student voice and vibrancy to our marketing.”
Kimberly Chai, marketing program manager at UC Irvine and Yuan’s supervisor, said the apprenticeship has allowed Yuan to take on leadership responsibilities and apply her strengths in design.
“She’s kind of my lead student designer,” Chai said. “She has grown so much in this position and has geared up very well for entering into a marketing field after college.”
Strengthening the talent pipeline
Apprenticeships are designed to address workforce needs by giving students earlier exposure to career pathways while building practical skills.
“The overall mission is to strengthen our talent pipeline in Orange County and support economic growth,” Forster said. “Students are gaining experience in a career pathway they’re interested in and developing skills they can apply in their future careers.”
Apprentices typically participate in yearlong programs that combine paid work with structured learning. Upon completion, students receive certificates recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor and California’s Division of Apprenticeship Standards, which they can add to their resumes.
Helbig said the benefits extend beyond technical skills.
“Students get so much out of an apprenticeship,” she said. “They can gain career clarity, build their professional networks and develop their skills.”
For Yuan, the experience has helped shape her future plans as she prepares to graduate in June.
“This apprenticeship program has given me a lot more confidence in navigating my career and further education,” she said.
For more information about OC Pathways and its programs, visit the program’s webpage.