City of San Diego Partners with UC San Diego to Expand Employee Education Options

"We are thrilled to announce a partnership between the City of San Diego and the UC San Diego Rady School of Management,” said Lisa Ordóñez, dean of the Rady School. “Up to five qualified City of San Diego employees will be guaranteed tuition fellowships each year for the next five years into one of our Flex MBA programs: Executive MBA or FlexEvening MBA. These programs offer professionals the flexibility to pursue a degree on their terms—whether evenings or weekends—without interrupting their careers. The curriculum is designed to foster innovation and leadership, with a strong emphasis on data-driven decision making, entrepreneurship and real-world application.”

Ordóñez added, “This partnership reflects Rady School's commitment to supporting San Diego’s public sector by making graduate-level business education more accessible.

The partnerships were formed as part of the city’s ongoing effort to recruit and retain a skilled workforce, according to city officials.

In a survey of more than 12,000 employees, 48% of respondents said they were interested in pursuing professional certification or achieving a college degree.

"UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies is delighted to join forces with the City of San Diego in this important partnership,” said Hugo Villar, dean of the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. “By providing city employees with access to our extensive catalog of high-quality courses and certificate programs, we are confident this collaboration will be instrumental in developing a highly skilled workforce equipped to meet the evolving needs of our community. Our flexible program formats and expert instruction, designed with working professionals in mind, will empower city employees to advance their careers and contribute to a thriving San Diego."

In addition to the Division of Extended Studies, and Rady School of Management, the partnership also extends to National University, the the San Diego College of Continuing Education.

“After seeking employee feedback on existing education and professional development barriers, the city crafted a partnership response to create diverse pathways for growth and workforce development,” said Christina Bibler, Director of the Economic Development Department. “After months of coordination, we were able to negotiate these four new partners to meet employee needs in alignment with our economic development strategy.”

City employees will be able to receive tuition discounts, varied educational and development opportunities and scholarships through these partnerships.

“At the Rady School of Management, we are committed to strengthening and developing strategic partnerships, both locally and globally,“ said Amanda Corona, Director of Corporate Partnerships at the Rady School. “Currently, we have established partnerships with organizations such as the County of San Diego, Scripps Health, Rady Children's Hospital, UC San Diego Health, and University Credit Union. This is just the beginning for us. Our promise is to provide workforce development opportunities that contribute to the vibrant San Diego community and beyond.”

Corona says the Rady School looks forward to continuing to offer tailored partnership opportunities, including customized executive education programs designed to meet the unique workforce development needs of organizations. These programs are designed to enhance the skills of leadership teams and employees, providing cutting-edge knowledge and tools to drive success.

Brandon Chavez, Assistant Director of Industry Engagement and Partnership Development at the Division of Extended Studies added, “Our approach to partnerships involves a dynamic process of listening, defining and then developing tailored training programs that meet the specific needs of organizations. Applying this to our agreement with the City of San Diego will allow us to present a variety of solutions, extending workforce development beyond immediate goals. This partnership is more than an investment in education—it’s an investment in the growth of our city. Together, UC San Diego and the City of San Diego are opening doors for employees to grow, lead and shape the future of our community.”