COLORADO TALENT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES: SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS & CAREER PATHWAYS Renise Walker, Education Liaison Colorado Workforce Development Council & Colorado Department of Education Renise.Walker@state.co.us www.COWorkforceCouncil.org www.SectorsSummit.com

VISION: EVERY COLORADO BUSINESS HAS ACCESS TO A SKILLED WORKFORCE AND EVERY COLORADAN HAS ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT, RESULTING IN STATEWIDE ECONOMIC VITALITY. MISSION: THE MISSION OF THE COUNCIL IS TO CREATE A BUSINESS‐FOCUSED WORKFORCE SYSTEM THAT EFFECTIVELY HELPS TO PREPARE COLORADANS FOR THE JOBS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW

Core Objective V : Educate and Train the Workforce of the Future Key Industry Networks Core Objective V : Educate and Train the Workforce of the Future 2011 regional listening tours, outcomes was 14 KINs to focus on increasing economic vitality in Colorado. 6 core objectives, Council designated Obj V. for each KIN. Build a Business Friendly Environment Recruit, Grow and Retain Businesses Increase Access to Capital Create and Market a Stronger Colorado Brand Educate and Train the Workforce of the Future Cultivate Innovation and Technology

Current State of Talent Development Pipeline Highly educated workforce, mostly imported Leaking talent pipeline 70% of jobs by 2020 will require postsecondary credential Skills gap

Large Aerospace Supplier A Typical State of Play K-12 Education Community Colleges Large Aerospace Supplier Workforce Development Small Machine Shop Economic Development Chamber of Commerce Micro-Brewery Community Organizations

Industry Pulls Us Into Alignment Individual Impact Coordinated Impact Collective Impact In Colorado, industry-led sector partnerships are the vehicle for aligning workforce development, education, and economic development initiatives with industries’ needs in an effective, results-driven manner.

What Is A Sector Partnership? An industry specific regional partnership led by business in partnership with economic development, education, and workforce development. What is a sector partnership and why do they matter for career pathway systems? In Colorado we’ve defined a sector partnership as an industry-specific regional partnership led by business in partnership with economic development, education, and workforce development. In Colorado, industry-led sector partnerships are the vehicle for aligning workforce development, education, and economic development initiatives with industries’ needs in an effective, results-driven manner. They provide the “home” for career pathway systems-building, engaging industry leaders and community partners in a continuous dialogue to ensure that education and training systems respond to industry needs.

Why sector partnerships? - Proven outcomes for At the regional labor market level, a partnership of employers within one industry sector or cluster that work closely with government, education and training, economic development, labor and community organizations to focus on the workforce and other competitiveness needs of their industry. Today’s Sector Partnerships: Are industry-driven Are regional Are convened by a credible third party Treat employers as partners, not just customers Act as a coordinating body across multiple education, workforce development, economic development and other programs Create highly customized responses to a target industry’s needs, and therefore highly accurate responses

Role of Public Partners: First, listen and make space for the industry voice to emerge Once industry leaders have defined their own agenda for action: Interpret industry priorities and develop responsive solutions in partnership with industry and other public partners; Act as a gateway into your institution, engaging others as needed, helping others understand how supporting the sector partnership’s priority aligns with the organization’s core mission or goals. Broker collaborations across programs to develop customized solutions, (as opposed to relying on pre-existing programs within institutional silos); Bring assets to the table (staff capacity, grant dollars, existing programs or program elements etc.) that can be combined in different ways to respond to industry needs. Provide project management support to advance sector partnership priorities, tracking progress, holding partners accountable, and driving toward action and results.

The Link Between Sector Partnerships and Career Pathways Sector Partnerships are the “home” for career pathway systems-building, engaging industry leaders and community partners in a continuous dialogue to ensure that education and training systems respond to industry needs.

What is a Career Pathway System? Aligns public partners and engages them in a continuous conversation that is led by industry and ensures that jobseekers and students move seamlessly through support programs, educational institutions, training opportunities, and work-based experiences to build skills and credentials that meet industry demand and prepare them for jobs and careers. In Colorado, the statewide career pathway system aligns career pathway programs and systems developed throughout high demand industries in each economic development region of the state.

What is a Career Pathway Program? A career pathway program offers a clear sequence of stackable credits and credentials, combined with support services, that enables students and jobseekers to secure industry-relevant skills, certifications, and credentials and advance to higher levels of education and employment in high demand occupations.

Creating Career Pathways Step-by-step Guide

Bringing It All Together Systems made up of coordinated programs Industry-led Coordinates among multiple education and training providers to accelerate the educational and career advancement of individuals Prepares individuals for success in a range of secondary and postsecondary education options. This includes registered apprenticeships