19D - WORKFORCE PLAN 2017-2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Plan fiDDRESS040 DEnSCHENCCES Over the past 18 months, OC Pathways and SB 1070 have jointly invested in a major initiative to align curriculum and educational practices at the secondary and post- secondary levels to best respond to the education and training needs identified by industry. Teams of educators, counselors and administrators have been actively engaged in multiple forums that provide opportunities for industry professionals to bring voice to the direction of curriculum and pedagogy in the career pathway programs linked to their sector. Workforce, education, and training initiatives in the region require further development and coordination. Feedback received guided key recommendations such as: infrastructure development, regional systemic alignment of workforce programs, policy alignment, and addressing talent pipeline issues. Strategies to address deficiencies Include: • Industry led and defined efforts to organize and align workforce activities through convening of local stakeholders and leverage of existing networks and resources • Coordinated businesses engagement efforts within and between community colleges and local boards • Research and evaluation of current industry needs in the region through surveys, focus groups, and workgroups • Evaluation and assessment of training processes and alignment of system processes among the local boards in the region • Identification of workforce /education infrastructure assets and gaps and building of capacity of all partners in the system to increase quality and broaden service delivery processes around training and education programs • Development and utilization of a shared digital platform to coordinate and streamline business engagement Declaration: Incentivize collaboration, not competition. A major theme that emerged from interviews with education and training providers is that the current system incentivizes campuses and training providers to act competitively, rather than in concert, because often funding and payment is based on how many customers they attract. ReglonoI Coat /0bjective: Improve access and quality of education and training services responsive to business needs that will increase, expand, and improve programs that create opportunities for all workers and job seekers for employment in fields with high wages and/or career advancement opportunities, including for those with barriers to employment. Strategy: The skills needed In the labor market change relatively rapidly as new technologies are developed, new industries are created, and existing industries evolve. As a result education and training courses, in order to stay relevant, must regularly be updated to reflect changing labor- market demands. Periodic evaluation, assessment and enhancement of existing education and training programs via the feedback key stakeholders ensure that regional needs will be addressed effectively and in a continuous manner. Coordination of training programs and resources may reduce redundancies in the system. State Plan Alignment: Foster demand driven skills attainment through collaboration and active engagement of businesses in workforce and education planning and affect system change through alignment, coordination and integration of systems, programs, and resources. The OC Pathways is a career pathway program in the OC Region that was initiated through a 2014 California Department and Education grant. OC Pathways is a program that is designed to equip students for college and career success using an innovative method that combines academics with career preparation. Over fifty industry partners have been engaged to participate in OC Pathways to focus on high -need, high -wage, high -skill STEM careers. Target sectors are healthcare /biotechnology, engineering, manufacturing, and Information technology /digital media. Industry partners Include major businesses in the OC Region, such as: Broadcom, Edwards Lifesciences, and Fluor Corporation to help build a regional infrastructure that expands career pathway opportunities for Orange County students. This goal Is achieved primarily by connecting educators with industry leaders to create a Career Readiness Hub, where students are provided with virtual field trips, virtual mentorships, interactive career exploration tools and a curriculum that emphasizes workforce readiness skills. Industry participation is relied upon because providing students with relevant, hands -on experience is central to the success of the program. The program provides students with direct involvement in career settings through internships, development of work -based learning program at local schools and other innovative teaching methods that are heavily influenced by industry partners. OC Pathways also provides resources for educators through workshops and learning sessions that introduce new Fag 16 19D -31