Intersect With Earl December 2022
There are parallels between the case for experiential learning and skills-based hiring. If “seat time” isn’t the best way to validate a credential, are such credentials the best way to signal job readiness? At CAEL, we believe postsecondary education providers have a vital role – empowering learners with career-furthering competencies and skill enhancement throughout a lifetime of learning. Read on for a few examples of why this issue is top of mind.
Strength in numbers: Multilateral partnerships that allow employers, educators, and unions to collaborate on increasing access to career-furthering education are making a big difference in many sectors, including our own coalitions, EPCE and NACTEL. Now, our fellow Strada Collaborative member InsideTrack is working with 20 health care employers and six unions to bring education and training benefits to more than 100,000 workers.
Education, training, and food security: Robin Farabee-Siers, CAEL’s director of member engagement, is building a national coalition of community colleges exploring, developing best practices for, and connecting to their local SNAP Employment and Training programs, part of a USDA Food and Nutrition Service grant program (click here if your community college is interested in providing additional support to your most under-resourced students).
It takes skills to use skills-based hiring: Companies are seeing the benefits of skills-based hiring for improving diversity and strengthening talent pipelines, but struggle with validating competencies.
State and local governments join the act: Much like the private sector, government employers have grappled with workforce woes, and some are weighing a skills-based approach.
Heeding the call: A “flood of universities” is responding to the demand for clearer connections between credentials and workforce competencies.
Attrition by the numbers: While pay remains the top reason for turnover, career path obstacles that employers could clear via education and training resources are a strong second.
Lost in transfer: A new issue brief argues that technology enhancements and policy intervention are needed to better serve the more than half of students who acquire college-level learning from multiple sources.
Apprenticeships and urban revitalization: Reimagining apprenticeships could help cities tackle workforce and real estate challenges.
Grant opportunity: Approved Michigan EMS education programs or those pursuing accredited are eligible to apply for emergency medical services workforce grants up to $350,000.
CAEL member mention: Congratulations to KC Scholars, which is dedicated to boosting completion rates among underserved students and offers adult learner scholarships, for receiving a $50 million grant to fund career training pathways for 30,000 adults in the Kansas City area.
Interested in learning more about CAEL memberships? Please visit us, and always feel free to contact us with questions or comments on any topic at cael@cael.org.
Additional Reading
College Access for Adults ‘More Critical Than Ever’ in Kentucky
Education Investment: Regions Bank Employees Get Tuition-Free Access at More Than 15 Institutions
More Than 90% of Apprentices Land Jobs Making More Than $75K, but Only 14% of Them Are Women
Indiana Chamber Looks to Plug ‘Leaking Talent Pipeline’ With Adult Postsecondary Completion
Work-Based Learning Brings 140+ Companies Together Around Rural Workforce Development
First-Ever Apprenticeship Program Dedicated to Agriculture and Rural Communities Launches in Kansas
Colorado: Time-Tested Apprenticeships Are the ‘Future of Work’
$10 Million in Federal Funding to Help Build On-Ramps Between Minnesota Prisons and Career Paths
Op Ed: Work-Based Learning, Enhanced LMI Needed to Maximize Impact of Federal Funds
Hands-on Learning Through the Eyes of VR
Thanks for spending a moment with me at the intersection of learning and work. Until next time, happy reading.
