WASHINGTON — The seventh annual U.S. News & World Report STEM Solutions Presents: Workforce of Tomorrow conference brought together leaders in education, business, government and the nonprofit sector to discuss strategies to develop the next generation of students in science, technology, engineering and math.
The theme — “Skills, Jobs and the New Collar Economy” — highlighted key innovations and practices to ensure that educational institutions and industry leaders work collaboratively to equip students with the skills needed in the workplace in the face of machine automation and other technological advancements.
In opening remarks Thursday, Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News and World Report, called for more cross-sector engagement between education institutions and STEM industries that includes fellowships and other experiential learning experiences for students and promotes life-long learning.
Community colleges have been “leading the way” in leveraging such partnerships with industries to craft curriculum for students to learn the skills needed for the ever-changing workforce, said Dr. Nicole Smith, research professor and chief economist at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.
To prepare for the future where technology is expected to automate some jobs — but create jobs in new areas for workers — Smith said leaders should expose students to career opportunities at the middle school level. Further exposure to internships in high school and experiential learning and work opportunities in college, she said, will give students insight and training for the skills they need to be successful.
Smith cautioned against leaders “chasing a moving target” – training students for a particular job that may not exist in the future as opposed to teaching them the broader “usable skills” they will need to flourish in their industry.
A potential model for the future of career preparation and workforce development may include the offering of “nano-degrees,” said Dr. Susan Lund, director of research at the McKinsey Global Institute and partner at McKinsey and Company. These smaller certifications, she said, would open up multiple career pathways for learners.
