powered by Riipen
Empower talent. Drive innovation. Strengthen the future workforce.
Frequently asked questions
Who can participate as an employer?
The SkillRISE Program partners with organizations ready to mentor emerging talent and support hands-on learning in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and project management. Eligible employers provide meaningful project context, light guidance, and feedback while helping shape the region’s future workforce.
Eligible to participate:
- Registered U.S. businesses and non-profit organizations in California
- Local and regional public agencies not engaged in partisan political activity
- Employers are able to offer real-world project exposure, check-ins, and professional feedback
Not eligible to participate:
- Organizations engaged in partisan political activities
- Federal, state, territorial, or municipal entities where participation would involve campaign-related advocacy or political promotion
Join a network of employers investing in future-focused skill development, innovation, and equitable access to high-demand career pathways.
What is the SkillRISE program?
The SkillRISE Program, powered by Riipen in partnership with the University of California, Merced – Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), offers hands-on, project-based learning experiences in additive manufacturing, clean energy, and project management.
Learners apply academic knowledge to real industry challenges through employer-hosted projects, gaining technical skills, professional experience, and mentorship from industry partners. Employers benefit by accessing motivated emerging talent and contributing to a structured, low-lift engagement model that supports real project needs while shaping future workforce pipelines.
The program plays a critical role in regional workforce and economic development, helping strengthen employer–education partnerships and expanding equitable access to high-quality career pathways across priority sectors in California’s Central Valley and beyond.
What type of projects can I post?
Employers can post hands-on projects that align with high-demand sectors supported through the SkillRISE Program, including Additive Manufacturing, Clean Energy, and Project Management. Projects should enable learners to apply emerging skills to real-world challenges, with a clear scope, structured guidance, and achievable outcomes. These experiences help students develop practical competencies while supporting employers in building future workforce pipelines and fostering collaboration between industry and higher education.
WordPress Developer Role
Employer: Light Up The World
Location: Remote
Our team is looking for a WordPress wizard who can help us drive more traffic and improve our website.
- This includes helping speed up our website
- Fixing the Plugins
- Updating our website;
- and helping team members with any questions
Student will:
- handling our plugins
- improve the performance of our website
- update our website (as required)
Computer science & IT | Data | Software Development
Which areas can you get support for?
Register on Riipen platform.
Step 01
Step 02
Match with students, who will visit your site and create a plan.
Step 03
Select a process or business needs to be analyzed for improvement and post it as a project.
Step 04
Collaborate and receive deliverables.
Step 05
Build a sustainable network of talent and support
Post your project in 5 simple steps:
Get your projects up and running.
SkillRISE students are ready to take on your projects today.
Not sure how to get started? Book a demo with our consultant to set up your project.
This program is cost-free for all organizations!
Zero cost to you.
Companies pay zero $$ to get access to interns. Learners get experience while you benefit from their skills.
Built-in experience.
Bring fresh energy to your team—work with adult learners to tackle short-term projects and make real progress.
Remote projects.
Access emerging talent in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and project management, and accelerate your organization’s goals with motivated SkillRISE participants ready to contribute real-world project support at no cost to you.
Post a project remotely to manage and monitor the progress using our ready-made templates.
The SkillRISE Program, powered by Riipen in partnership with the University of California, Merced – Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) division, connects employers with emerging talent in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and project management.
By hosting a hands-on, real-world project, you help learners apply academic knowledge to industry challenges while advancing workforce equity, strengthening regional talent pipelines, and shaping sustainable, future-focused career pathways.
Advanced project management.
Participants possess advanced project coordination capabilities, enabling them to manage risk, develop detailed project plans, and apply Agile, Waterfall, or Lean methodologies to complex technical initiatives in advanced manufacturing and clean energy environments. They provide structured oversight and reliable execution support to keep deliverables on track.
Project management foundations.
Participants have emerging project management skills suitable for the advanced manufacturing and clean energy sectors. They can support core planning, documentation, scheduling, and stakeholder communication to ensure projects stay organized and aligned with defined objectives.
Participants have foundational skills in additive manufacturing, CAD modeling, and design-for-AM principles, enabling them to support real-world projects through part redesign, materials and process evaluation, simulation work, and technical documentation. They are equipped to contribute to early-stage design optimization, provide research insights, and facilitate structured project execution, while strengthening communication and teamwork throughout the engagement.
Advanced manufacturing.
Clean energy.
Participants have foundational skills in solar energy and battery storage systems and can support real-world work through feasibility studies, energy output modeling, system optimization, and technical reporting. They help organizations evaluate renewable options, improve efficiency, and advance clean energy implementation.
What is the timeline and project duration?
Project length varies by program. Advanced Project Management projects run for 40 hours per participant, with a team of 3 to 5 learners, over a period of up to 8 weeks. All other programs — including Clean Energy, Project Management Foundations, and Additive Manufacturing — run 20 hours per participant over up to 4 weeks. Each timeline is structured to ensure focused project scope, consistent progress, and meaningful deliverables for your organization.
How do I get the most out of this for my business?
Post a project using our template library and provide detailed information on what you need assessed or completed. The clearer and more specific the scope, the more comprehensive the outcome within the given timeline and project duration.
