School of Education hosts local leaders to discuss modern competencies, future workforce needs
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The UCI School of Education, in partnership with ETS, on February 5 hosted executive leadership from school districts and community colleges, nonprofits, think tanks, and businesses to discuss modern competencies and future workforce needs.
The roundtable discussion sought ways to define and measure the types of modern competencies – such as critical thinking, collaborative problem solving and interpersonal communication – that are aligned with the goals of Orange County education providers and the needs of local employers. “This was a tremendous gathering of executive leadership that generated several thought-provoking conversations and key takeaways,” said Richard Arum, Dean and Professor, UCI School of Education. “As a world-class School of Education in the heart of Orange County – the home to leading industry and a diverse citizenry of more than three million people – it is important that we are continuously exploring how to prepare students to be successful in the 21st century workplace.” |
Executive leadership from local schools, community colleges, nonprofits, policy think-tanks and businesses meet at UCI to discuss modern competencies and the workforce of tomorrow
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The meeting explored interest in a demonstration project that would serve as a national model of helping students to signal mastery of higher-order skills; provide mechanisms for co-developing solutions for skills assessment and training; and address opportunities and challenges around preparing students to be competitive in the job market.
Members of ETS – Lorenzo Esters, Executive Director, Higher Education Partnerships; Guangming Ling, Research Scientist; Lydia Liu, Senior Research Director; and Javarro Russell, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships and Innovation – presented as a panel on Skills for the New Economy Initiative: Rationale, Findings, Capabilities and Prototype.
“The ETS Skills for a New Economy Initiative team was proud to partner with Dean Arum and UCI’s School of Education in hosting the convening," Esters said. "We were pleased by the level of interest and it was helpful for us to be able to learn from key K12, community college, four-year institution, and industry leaders about the opportunities for improving individuals’ ability to signal mastery of 21st century skills.
"The commitment of the leaders in attendance from all sectors was very evident and we look forward to working with the team on the next steps in co-developing solutions to address the education-to-work skills gap. This effort is important to the success of individuals as well as the success of our local and national economies.”
Later in the day, Hans Johnson, Senior Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California and Thomas and Marilyn Sutton Chair in Higher Education Policy, delivered a lunch keynote, Addressing Gaps in California Workforce Needs and Education.
The event was "A timely and welcome opportunity to have our partners in education and industry come together to share their vision for engaging students in the future of work, while identifying the skills needed to support the workforce of tomorrow,” said JoAnna Schilling, President, Cypress College.
Members of ETS – Lorenzo Esters, Executive Director, Higher Education Partnerships; Guangming Ling, Research Scientist; Lydia Liu, Senior Research Director; and Javarro Russell, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships and Innovation – presented as a panel on Skills for the New Economy Initiative: Rationale, Findings, Capabilities and Prototype.
“The ETS Skills for a New Economy Initiative team was proud to partner with Dean Arum and UCI’s School of Education in hosting the convening," Esters said. "We were pleased by the level of interest and it was helpful for us to be able to learn from key K12, community college, four-year institution, and industry leaders about the opportunities for improving individuals’ ability to signal mastery of 21st century skills.
"The commitment of the leaders in attendance from all sectors was very evident and we look forward to working with the team on the next steps in co-developing solutions to address the education-to-work skills gap. This effort is important to the success of individuals as well as the success of our local and national economies.”
Later in the day, Hans Johnson, Senior Fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California and Thomas and Marilyn Sutton Chair in Higher Education Policy, delivered a lunch keynote, Addressing Gaps in California Workforce Needs and Education.
The event was "A timely and welcome opportunity to have our partners in education and industry come together to share their vision for engaging students in the future of work, while identifying the skills needed to support the workforce of tomorrow,” said JoAnna Schilling, President, Cypress College.
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The commitment of the leaders in attendance from all sectors was very evident and we look forward to working with the team on the next steps in co-developing solutions to address the education-to-work skills gap. This effort is important to the success of individuals as well as the success of our local and national economies.”
- Dr. Lorenzo Esters, Executive Director, Higher Education Partnerships, ETS /
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"It was invigorating to sit in a room with so many like-minded 21st century educators in Orange County," said Kathy Boyd, Director, Career Education, Orange County Department of Education. "I look forward to continuing the conversation around blending employability skills as an intentional part of instructional strategies in K12 classrooms. The importance of such a convening signifies that Orange County educators are at the forefront of innovation and modernization."
Attendees included superintendents from Orange County school districts, senior leadership from local community colleges, and representation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, CEO Leadership Alliance, High School Inc. Academies Foundation, Orange County Business Council, Orange County Community Foundation, and the Orange County Department of Education.
