Cal State Hayward Opens Education and Conference Center in Downtown Oakland

Oakland businesses and government workers will have new opportunities for education and international training with the opening of the new Education and Conference Center, operated by California State University, Hayward.

The center opened Nov. 19 on the first floor of the TransPacific Center, 1000 Broadway, Suite 109.

The newly renovated facility at 11th and Broadway will offer a full range of undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as extended and continuing education classes. It also offers complete curricula for earning a master's degree in public administration at the "state-of-the-art" facility, across the street from BART's Oakland City Center station and the Marriott Hotel. An MBA program currently is under development.

The 11,000-square-foot Cal State Hayward center also has a fully equipped conference center, available for rent to businesses and government agencies. It features an expandable conference room, five classrooms, wireless Internet access, and multimedia capabilities. These facilities, with two high-speed multimedia labs containing PC and Macintosh computer stations, are designed for specialized corporate training sessions, as well as computer training classes.

The university's Continuing Education curriculum provides a variety of certificate programs at the new center for working adults and those who need academic instruction to advance their careers. These programs include courses in human resources, purchasing, multimedia, chemical dependency treatment, international trade, e-business, and fitness. Courses to complete undergraduate degree requirements also are offered.

The international trade certificate program is designed for individuals and companies
already involved in global trade, as well as those interested in expanding their businesses or interested in a change of careers.

"Technology plays such an important role in international trade, so we've integrated an e-business component into much of the curriculum," said Elihu Harris, chairman of the board of the Bay Area World Trade Center and former Oakland mayor.

The faculty will address issues in international trade such as cross-cultural communication, manufacturing, pricing, distribution, trade laws, suppliers, logistics and competition. Guest lecturers will include leaders in international trade.

A "grand opening" reception, open to the public, will be held at the Education and Conference Center on Thursday, Jan. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. On-site parking is available to those attending the reception as well as classes and conferences at the Cal State Hayward Education and Conference Center.

"We're creating educational opportunities and greater convenience for people who work in government and business in or near the center of Oakland," said CSUH President Norma Rees. "They no longer must travel to Hayward or our satellite campus in Contra Costa County after a long day at work in order to access our educational services and learn from outstanding Cal State Hayward faculty."

For additional information about CSUH Extended and Continuing Education courses, call (510) 885-3605.