Purpose: This conceptual study explores whether business competitions (BCs), a prominent yet understudied non-placement work-integrated learning (WIL) model, align with the recently proposed WIL criteria, thereby confirming their validity as scalable pedagogical tools to reduce the persistent competency gap in Master of Business Administration…

In order for career pathways to remain relevant to learners and meet the rapidly evolving needs of industry and workforce demands, they must include cross-sector collaboration, seamless advancement and progression, credential attainment, experiential work-based learning (EWBL), and they need to be responsive and flexible. "Emerging Sectors,…

The advanced manufacturing sector is a key driver of North Carolina's economy, requiring a skilled and adaptable workforce to meet the demands of rapidly growing and evolving industries such as aerospace, biotechnology, and renewable energy. Across the state, and particularly in rural areas, developing a sustainable pipeline of talent for the…

Only half of high school students report feeling prepared for their postsecondary lives, according to a Gallup poll. In a separate survey by Morning Consult, two-thirds of young people aged 16-24 said they did not know what career to pursue, and only 44 percent of 19- to 24-year-olds who had not enrolled in college were satisfied with their career…