Episode 62
Beyond the Buzzwords: Delivering Real Impact in Workforce Education
Brief description of the episode
Juanita Soranno, Head of Impact at Cengage and founder of Code Connect, has an insightful discussion with Laura Hakala about delivering real impact in workforce education. Drawing from her personal experience as a workforce program participant, Juanita shares how Cengage measures impact through various metrics and shares essential insights into employer-aligned training, AI-driven skills mapping, the evolving role of boot camps and microcredentials, and how community partnerships can close critical gaps.
Key Takeaways:
- Maintain continuous dialogue with employers through surveys, focus groups, and advisory boards. This direct communication ensures organizations understand current workforce needs and can adapt their programs accordingly.
- Use data analytics to track job market trends and make informed decisions about curriculum adjustments. This involves monitoring both current and emerging skill requirements in the job market.
- Understanding and addressing specific local labor market needs is crucial. Different communities have different workforce requirements, and programs need to be tailored accordingly.
- Monitor program effectiveness through various metrics, including job placement rates and employer feedback. It is important to measure both short-term success (immediate employment) and long-term impact (career progression and community economic growth).
- Bringing together diverse stakeholders including educators, employers, and community leaders allows these groups to pool their resources and expertise to address community needs more effectively.
- By combining resources from various community organizations and stakeholders, coalitions can create more robust and effective solutions. Allowing better utilization of existing community assets and preventing duplication of efforts.
- Community coalitions have deep knowledge of local needs and opportunities. This local insight helps create programs that are specifically tailored to address the skills mismatch between available workers and employer needs in the community.
- Working together as a coalition helps create more sustainable, long-term solutions. When multiple stakeholders are invested in the outcome, programs are more likely to receive continued support and resources needed for long-term success.
- Coalitions help bridge communication gaps between different stakeholders. By bringing together educators, employers, and community leaders, they ensure better alignment between training programs and actual workforce needs.
- Asset mapping is a systematic process of identifying and leveraging the strengths and resources available within a community. This creates a comprehensive understanding of what resources already exist and how they can be utilized effectively.
- Asset mapping helps foster internal collaboration by ensuring all teams are aware of available resources and can contribute to shared goals. This creates better alignment within the organization and helps teams work more effectively together.
- Asset mapping helps build stronger relationships with external partners by understanding their unique assets and needs. This understanding leads to more effective partnerships and better-aligned programs.
- The process helps create programs that are aligned with local needs and resources. By understanding what’s already available in the community, organizations can develop complementary programs rather than duplicate existing efforts.
- Through asset mapping, organizations can identify what resources are missing in a community. This helps in understanding where new programs or services are needed most.
- By understanding existing resources, organizations can create more sustainable programs that build on what’s already working in the community rather than starting from scratch.
- Boot camps are becoming more specialized to meet specific industry needs. Programs are evolving to focus on emerging technologies and specific skill sets that align with current market demands.
- Programs are becoming more flexible in their delivery and structure. Boot camps have adapted their modalities multiple times, first during the pandemic and then in response to emerging technologies like AI and semiconductors.
- Boot camps are maintaining and strengthening their connections with industry partners. This ensures their curricula remain up-to-date and relevant to current employer needs. These partnerships are key to maintaining program effectiveness.
- Boot camps are incorporating more emphasis on soft skills alongside technical training. This responds to employer demands for well-rounded candidates who possess both technical expertise and interpersonal abilities.
- Programs are becoming more modular, allowing for customization based on local needs. This is described as using “puzzle pieces” to meet specific needs rather than creating siloed curricula, making programs more adaptable to different contexts.
- Boot camps are constantly adapting to keep pace with rapid technological changes. Programs that were successful in 2018-2019 have had to evolve significantly to remain relevant in the current market.
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