UHCL and KBR sign internship partnership agreement
University of Houston-Clear Lake and KBR have signed a partnership agreement creating internship opportunities for students from across multiple academic disciplines to gain valuable professional experience in the aerospace industry. UH-Clear Lake President Richard Walker and KBR Vice President of Human Exploration Laurie Labra signed the agreement Wednesday, Sept. 27.
“At UHCL, we are focused on the kind of workforce development that is needed here in Bay Area Houston, and that’s why we are very excited about this partnership,” Walker said. “We are working strategically with industry and community partners to think about how our students can get the best out-of-classroom experiential learning opportunities.”
Walker said this the UHCL-KBR agreement would offer more than just internships for students. “This gives them the chance to take what they’re learning in the classroom and apply it to a real-world industry need,” he said. “Students are being specifically recruited to get these hands-on opportunities, and we know this will open doors for them when they graduate, both at KBR and elsewhere.”
Walker added this was the second strategic partnership in the aerospace industry, having signed a similar agreement last year with Boeing. “We are all working together to support the needs of industry in the Bay Area,” he said.
“We are thrilled to celebrate KBR’s newest partnership with UHCL, aimed at providing interns for NASA’s Integrated Mission Operations Contract (IMOC) III,” Labra said. “Serving as the prime contractor for this significant, $1.9 billion endeavor, KBR works hard every day to enhance human spaceflight initiatives, including vital contributions to the International Space Station, Artemis, and Low Earth Orbit commercialization.”
She added that it was also integral to their mission to inspire and train the next generation to help reach their goals. “The establishment of this highly sought-after internship program will offer elevated, hands-on learning experiences at Johnson Space Center to deserving students in the area—with benefits extending beyond STEM to the liberal arts and business fields,” Labra continued. “KBR has been happy to collaborate with UHCL and its students on various projects throughout the years. We take immense pride in the enduring strength of this relationship and anticipate its expansion into other human exploration programs in the coming years.”
The agreement was facilitated through UHCL’s Office of Strategic Partnerships, which supports initiatives that enhance and increase experiential learning opportunities for students, and increases their opportunities to participate in internships that will help prepare them for a successful career. For more information about resources available through OSP, visit www.uhcl.edu/strategic-partnerships/