Leadership Challenges for Higher Education in Workforce Development

Posted by on April 18, 2003

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University Graduate School of Education present:

Leadership Challenges for Higher Education in Workforce Development
A One Day Symposium

8:00 – 4:00 PM

Symposium Site:
State Farm Insurance Company
One State Farm Drive
Concordville, PA 19339

Corporate and political leaders as well as educators are increasingly recognizing that the United States of AMerica will face a social and economic crisis unless we ensure that this country produces the needed workforce (i.e. persons with requisite skills and knowledge to meet job needs). Two interrelated issues will be the foci of a symposium being held to address this potential crisis. First, demographic information strongly suggests that a significant portion of the potential workforce for the future will be persons identified as minorities whose education attainments have not kept pace with whites. For example, preparation for many of the jobs that will be available in the future will require at least a baccalaureate degree. Second, while many of the workforce needs ot hte country are in science and technology, and are expected to be in those areas in the future, career interests in these areas, across all ethnic groups, have not kept pace with the needs.

The symposium is expected to bring together community, corporate and political leaders, and students to discuss the perceived problem and to develop strategies for workforce development that will meet anticipated needs. Among speakers are Dr. Gary Orfield, Professor of Education and Social Policy at Harvard University, who will talk about how past public policies have created the problem and how some of our current policies may affect our success in meeting workforce needs for the future. Other speakers, panelists, and session leaders have been selected to present national, regional, state, and local perspectives to the extent of the problem and what can be done to ameliorate it.

For more information and to register call, 610-399-2027.