Education Design Lab’s March 2024 webinar highlights the tools and insights featured in A Community College’s Guide to Engaging Employers, available to download now.
What
A one-hour webinar featuring college and industry partners from the Lab’s Community College Growth Engine initiative. Partners highlighted their approaches to employer engagement, as well as the impact of their strategies on micro-pathway design and institutional transformation.
The webinar highlights the tools and insights featured in A Community College’s Guide to Engaging Employers, the Lab’s updated and revised employer engagement guidebook offering practical ideas for building stronger relationships between employers and community colleges. Download here.
Who
The webinar was hosted by Rachel Kahn, Deputy Director of CCGE, with a brief overview of the guidebook by Senior Education Designer Joseph Davis.
The panel discussion featured:
- Frankie Adams, Lead Digital Media Instructor (and micro-pathways design team lead) at College of Eastern Idaho
- Jennifer Huston, Director of Workforce Training and Continuing Education (and micro-pathways design team lead) at Saint Paul College
- Crystal Zmak, Director of Dealership Development, Teton Auto Group
Jump right into these chapters:
0:00 Introduction
3:17 Phases of Engagement
6:02 Phase 1: Understanding Landscape
9:40 Phase 2: Establishing Commitments
11:04 Phase 3: Developing an Ecosystem
14:48 Phase 4: Designing a Talent Journey
17:20 Phase 5: Measuring Impact + Feedback
19:16 Partnerships are key for Success
19:57 Employer Engagement Q&A
23:25 Panelist Introductions
23:52 College of Eastern Idaho Digital Media Instructor
24:31 Saint Paul College Director of Workforce Training
25:28 Teton Auto Group Director of Dealership Development
25:47 Employer Engagement Learn + Share
29:10 Communication Structure Learn + Share
33:00 Tracking Data + Outcomes Learn + Share
39:28 An Employer’s Challenge w/ Micro-pathways Learn + Share
42:32 Community College Micro-pathway challenges Learn + Share
47:10 How Community Colleges maintain Employer Relationships
51:07 Employers Workforce Training/Noncredit Credentials Views
52:35 Last question: What does telling your story look like?
58:32 Webinar conclusion w/ Rachel Kahn, Deputy Director of CCGE
Intended audience
While the primary purpose of the webinar is to support community colleges working with the Community College Growth Engine (CCGE, or the “Growth Engine”), the webinar may be helpful to anyone interested in practical ideas for building stronger relationships between employers and community colleges.
Why
Employer engagement is one of the Lab’s most essential design criteria, directly impacting the success of programs as well as learner outcomes. Creating talent pipelines and career ladders that are tangible and locally focused will ensure that your institution remains an essential resource for workforce development in your ecosystem. A strong employer engagement strategy will help increase the sense of growth, agency, and belonging between your institution, learners, and employers.
Questions?
Please contact Rachel Kahn, Deputy Director of CCGE, at rkahn@eddesignlab.org.
