高等教育在劳动力发展中的作用：院校加速影响力的三项行动

Summary Higher education institutions (HEIs) play a significant role in theworkforce development ecosystem, as their mission is to equipstudents with the knowledge, skills, and training necessary tosucceed in the workforce across a broad spectrum of careersand industries. Defining the Workforce Development Ecosystem The workforce development ecosystem is a dynamic,interconnected network of stakeholders and institutions thatcollaborate to prepare individuals for meaningful employment,drive economic growth, and respond to evolving labor marketneeds. This ecosystem is characterized by partnerships that spaneducation, government, industry, and community organizations,all working together to support learners and workers throughouttheir career journeys. However, institutions are now educating a wider range of students,and the nature of work is changing more quickly than ever beforedue to technology and shifting economic paradigms. At the sametime, HEIs are facing unprecedented challenges: full-time equivalentstudent enrollment has declined by 10.8% from its peak in 2011,and many institutions are grappling with significant revenuepressures as federal and state funding continues to shrink1. Theneed for HEIs to adapt and innovate, provide modern credentialsand relevant certification options, and understand how to providetheir students a return on investment in the form of a well-paying jobis more nuanced and critical than ever before. Traditional educationand workforce development models often misalign with thedemands of the modern job market, which prioritizes adaptability,continuous learning, and digital proficiency. Compoundingpressures – declining enrollment, funding cuts, and shifting learnerdemographics – underscore the urgency for HEIs to transform. Byreimagining their role in the workforce ecosystem, institutions canunlock new, lower-cost delivery models, reach untapped learnerpopulations, and build more resilient revenue streams. To remainrelevant and deliver on their promise, HEIs should boldly reimaginetheir role – not just as providers of education, but as agile, proactivearchitects of workforce readiness and economic mobility. Thistransformation requires a willingness to modernize governancestructures, enabling more system-wide and ecosystem-drivendecision-making that breaks down silos and accelerates innovationacross the sector. Key Components •Higher Education Institutions:Colleges, universities, andcommunity colleges that provide academic programs, technicaltraining, and credentials aligned with workforce needs. ManyHEIs have dedicated workforce development agencies thatfocus on bridging education and employment. •Workforce Development Agencies:Specialized entities,within HEIs and externally, that design and deliver training,upskilling, and reskilling programs. These agencies oftencoordinate with employers and government to deliverprograms that are relevant and accessible. •State and Local Government:Public sector organizationsthat set workforce policies, provide funding, and facilitatepartnerships among stakeholders. They play a critical role inaligning workforce initiatives with regional economic priorities. •Employers across Industries:Businesses and industryleaders who identify skill needs, offer work-based learningopportunities (such as internships, apprenticeships,and co-ops), and often collaborate on curriculum design toprepare graduates for employment. •Non-profit Organizations:Community-based groups andadvocacy organizations that support workforce developmentthrough outreach, wrap-around services like career counselingand childcare, and targeted programs for underservedpopulations. •Technology and Data Providers:Companies and platformsthat supply labor market analytics, skills assessments, digitallearning tools, and job-matching services. Their insights helpinform program design and measure outcomes. •Students and Learners:Individuals seeking to gain new skills,credentials, or degrees to enter or advance in the workforce. •Workers:People at various stages of their careers, includingcareer starters (new entrants to the labor market) and careershifters (those transitioning between roles or industries). Theirneeds drive the demand for flexible, accessible, and relevantworkforce development opportunities. Understanding the varied players in the ecosystem –employers, community organizations, government, and learnersthemselves – can foster collaboration and collective solutioning forthese challenges. The solution is clear: we’re better together. Thispaper explores how HEIs can capitalize on their pivotal role withinthe workforce development ecosystem to prepare students andprofessionals for the dynamic and ever-evolving workforce by takingthe following actions: 1.Forge strong partnerships with ecosystem stakeholdersincluding government entities, industries, and non-profits tounderstand workforce needs and create innovative solutionsthrough strategic alliances with continuous engagem