Universities are critical to the success of a growth-driving industrial strategy, and to the sector plans, which must capitalise on the higher education sector's contributions: (1) developing a high-skilled workforce for the nation; (2) collaborating with businesses, further education colleges and Mayoral Strategic Authorities to bring coherence…

Microcredentials (shorter-term credentials) are integrating into traditional degree pathways, and trustees of public colleges and universities should examine the role of these credentials in the baccalaureate programs of their institutions. Shorter-term credentials can provide substantial benefits for public four-year institutions, including…

The report "State Approaches to Short-Term Postsecondary Credentials: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Gaps" explores how state policymakers engage with short-term postsecondary credentials, highlighting key policy levers such as state authorization, consumer protections, financial aid, and quality standards. It examines the…

The solar energy sector plays a critical role in South Africa's energy transition, especially as it is one of the country's fastest-growing renewable energy sectors. It is envisaged that this growing sector will create numerous jobs in the short-, medium-, and long-term for intermediate-level skills development and will serve as an important…

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) plays a pivotal role in equipping young individuals with technical skills and competencies, enhancing their employability. TVET is distinct for its student-centered and industry-oriented features, often involving enterprises in on-site training. In this study, we conceptualized TVET as a…

The Centre for Lifelong Learning (SELL) at Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN) has been crafting tailored, flexible educational programs for working adults for thirty years, seamlessly integrating education with professional life. This paper underscores SELL's pivotal role in furnishing pertinent formal and informal education for…

Even in good economic times, many adults in the United States have trouble finding jobs that pay enough to support their families. One policy response has been to help these workers build more skills, with promising findings from some sector-based programs that train individuals to work in specific high-demand industries. The Pay for Success Clean…

Background: Despite federal mandates under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the implementation of Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) for transition-age youth (TAY) with disabilities varies considerably. Although prior studies have explored provider preparedness and barriers, few have examined provider-reported practices and…

In recent years, there has been a change in the objectives of Higher Education (HE): the inclusion of employability. The successful inclusion of employability as a goal of HE requires a change to the sector's teaching, learning and assessment (TLA) methods, which ought to be part of an HEI's strategy. In particular, there needs to be an emphasis…

As quantum technologies transition out of the research lab and into commercial applications, it becomes important to better prepare students to enter this new and evolving workforce. To work toward this goal of preparing physics students for a career in the quantum industry, a senior capstone course called "Quantum Forge" was created at…

In this article, we present an example of a student's recently completed dissertation in practice (DiP) to demonstrate how the DiP can serve as culminating evidence of a student's successful preparation as a scholar-practitioner. The purpose of this DiP was to determine to what extent students develop workforce skills while completing a community…

Purpose: This study aims to identify and explore the critical components of Industry 4.0 (IR4.0) talent domains needed by Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students through work-based learning (WBL) programs in Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research design was employed, involving semi-structured…

Higher education remains a pivotal driver of social and economic mobility, with college graduates earning significantly more over their lifetimes compared to their peers without a degree. However, the benefits of higher education remain out of reach for an increasing number of students, as enrollments decline and stopout rates climb. In recent…

Short-term certificate (STC) programs at community colleges represent a long-standing policy priority to align accelerated postsecondary credentials with job opportunities in local labor markets. Despite large investments in developing STCs, little evidence exists about where and when STCs are opened and whether community colleges open new…

Purpose: This paper explores how higher education institutions can redesign curricula to produce globally competitive graduates equipped with critical skills for success in an interconnected workforce. It emphasizes the integration of interdisciplinary learning, global competence and experiential education while positioning leadership development…