🤝 Employers in our region struggle to fill jobs and retain employees, not just for technical skills but also for the essential skills that a liberal arts education provides. Ron Cole, President of Allegheny College, shares insights on how a liberal arts degree can meet local employer needs.
🔑 Key takeaways:
♦️ Higher education, particularly liberal arts, can supply essential skills like teamwork, critical thinking, and complex problem-solving.
♦️ Building partnerships by asking, "What do you need?" helps tailor education to real workplace needs.
♦️ Successful examples in Western Pennsylvania include Allegheny Lab for Innovation and Creativity (ALIC) and initiatives at Gannon University, Mercyhurst University, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown, and Carnegie Mellon University.
♦️ Closing the disconnect between higher education and industry requires relationship-building, challenging assumptions, and open collaboration.
📰 Read the full op-ed to learn more about how these partnerships can drive economic development: https://lnkd.in/ezAWF5-6
ATI is a Bloomberg Philanthropies-supported collaboration between the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, Ithaka S R, and a growing alliance of colleges and universities dedicated to substantially expanding opportunity and access for low- and moderate-income students. More info →https://lnkd.in/eTa8wi8i
Leadership Coach, Instructor, Consultant, Retired from CIA
1moThis was a great event.