AUSTIN, Texas — Interplay Learning has joined forces with Lenoir Community College (LCC) in Kinston, North Carolina, to advance the mission of Centro Educativo Latino, an LCC workforce development program, and increase access to the nation’s first Spanish-language North American Technician Excellence (NATE) HVAC certification hybrid program.

Students can now get online three-dimensional simulation and virtual-reality (VR) HVAC training from Interplay that’s presented entirely in Spanish. They get hands-on practice with a wide variety of scenarios and equipment types in a safe, no-fail environment, a press release from Interplay said.

The initiative aims to unlock opportunities for the Latino community in North Carolina, providing access to in-demand skilled-trades jobs and marking a change in technical education programs that were typically only in English.

“For the longest time, the Latino community never had a place to go for higher education in the skilled trades,” said Carlos Cotto, director of Centro Educativo Latino and LCC’s associate dean of workforce development and Latino programs. “This partnership with Interplay Learning is a significant step forward in providing our students with comprehensive, cutting-edge 3D simulation and VR training in their native language, ensuring they are industry-certified and well-prepared for the demands of rewarding careers and entrepreneurship.”

Centro Educativo Latino at LCC is a cornerstone for the Hispanic community, offering more than 70 Spanish-language workforce development courses.

“Empowering the Latino community through accessible trades education aligns seamlessly with our mission,” said Doug Donovan, CEO and founder of Interplay. “We believe in the transformative power of education and technology, and this collaboration exemplifies our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in the workforce.”

Centro Educativo Latino extends its commitment beyond linguistic accessibility by providing an affordable and flexible hybrid model of HVAC instruction, blending online and in-person learning. The program addresses the needs of individuals who work full time by offering weekend classes. A sliding-scale pricing model, supported by generous scholarships such as Train the East, ensures that education remains financially accessible to all.

The program now reaches 29 surrounding counties and even draws students from out-of-state.

Interplay’s VR training creates a field-like virtual reality environment that enhances engagement and learning experiences during laboratory time, the company said. The new collaboration with LCC addresses language barriers and caters to diverse learning styles, preparing students for lucrative job opportunities that are often found through the college’s relationships with local employers.