ICCB Strategic Plan Workforce Education

Transcription

1 ICCB Strategic Plan Workforce Education Jennifer K. Foster Deputy Director for Adult Education and Workforce Brian Durham Deputy Director for Academic Affairs September 23, 2015

2 What is the Workforce Education Strategic Plan? The Workforce Education Strategic Plan is a five-year plan developed in partnership with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents, representatives of various stakeholder groups, state agencies and interested parties to: develop a comprehensive set of recommended strategic directions and goals to guide Workforce Education in the Illinois community college system.

3 Intent of the Plan Strengthen and build upon the existing foundation for future workforce initiatives in the state Expand and enhance Illinois ability to attract businesses and develop educational opportunities to support students success as they prepare to enter the workforce Align education and workforce to meet workforce needs

4 Plan s Purpose The Workforce Education Plan will: Ensure education and economic competitiveness for the system at the local and state levels; Strengthen Business and Industry relationships; Maximize employer engagement in the development of relevant programs that will lead to sustainable wages; Enhance education and training at all levels of the system including adult education, business and industry, career and technical education, and continuing education; and Provide integrated options for students to move them quickly into career pathway programs/programs of Study (POS).

5 VISION. Utilize the overall strategic planning and related processes to achieve alignment of the community college system and the state s workforce development system with economic development directions and workforce needs, thereby creating a talent pipeline that fuels economic growth and creates career pathways for all citizens of Illinois.

6 Process. Steering Committee Regional Forums Employer Engagement Explores what can be done by community colleges, and by the talent development system as a whole, to better meet employer needs. Education System Alignment Explores what the individual community colleges need from ICCB and other education partners to maximize their ability to serve their communities. Talent Development System Alignment Explores how the various partners can work together with community colleges to address the sector and occupational needs of the workforce.

7 Common Themes : Connections Among Public Partners There is a clear need to develop strategies that will strengthen each region s connections between and among community colleges, adult education, career and technical education, K-12 systems, and the workforce and economic development systems. Public Partners Engagement and Alignment with Business Partnering with education and training providers, and with economic and workforce development, needs to be easier and more seamless for employers, and must provide more value. Essential and Occupational Skill Needs Employers want workforce and education systems to expand the pool of qualified applicants. They uniformly noted significant deficits in workers (particularly young workers ) soft or essential skills and also want the workforce partners to specifically address the sector and occupational needs of industry.

8 Common Themes: Education and Training Program Needs Employers continuously emphasized their perception of a disconnect between what they need and the training and other services being provided by the education and workforce systems. Employers want education and training to be better aligned to their needs, standards and expectations, and would be enthusiastic participants in effective collaborations focused on achieving that. Earlier Career-Related Education and Exposure Students need to be exposed to careers, on-the-job learning, and work much earlier. There was a clear consensus that career exposure, exploration, and work experience needs to start earlier, at the K-12 level, and optimally at the elementary school level. Community colleges, adult education, career and technical education, and K-12 partners have a significant opportunity to expand collaboration and strategic efforts and to ensure that clear and consistent career pathways are adopted statewide and intentionally pursued on a continuum from the K-12 to community college level (and beyond).

9 Implications for Career Technical Education. Full implementation of a Career Pathways system that connects Programs of Study to Career Pathways. Developing strong and early interventions with K-12 and adult education programs. Closer connections to the Workforce System (WIOA Title I), and Adult Education, along with all the required partners in the One-Stop system. Better understanding of and better alignment with the needs of employers. Impact on the planning process at the state level and at the local level.

10 Implications for Adult Education. Stronger connection of Adult Education to Workforce Education and CTE Emphasis on Integrated Education and Training options for students Connection with Businesses in building Curriculum Developing Career Pathways that connect with Postsecondary education, Workforce, and Employment Using Data for Decision Making Basis for development of the Adult Education Strategic Plan Connecting the WESP and WIOA

11 Implications for Community College Workforce Education Closer connection of workforce with business and industry system Continue to develop strong curricula/training that connect embeds the needs of employers Develop tools that will assist colleges Collect strong data that tells the story Develop a seamless delivery to workforce in the state Emphasis on developing essential skills Developing a clear vision for Workforce Education in the state

12 Next Steps Post the Maher & Maher report to the ICCB website Develop timeline for development of the plan Form a team to develop the goals and objectives under each theme areas. Gather input from the workforce education community on plan details Present final document to the ICCB

13 Questions Jennifer K. Foster Deputy Director for Adult Education and Workforce Brian Durham Deputy Director for Academic Affairs