This paper reports a problem-based learning model for the training of university students in the area of industrial energy efficiency, and discusses its context, contents, and the results from its implementation. The impact has been significant, with hundreds of university graduates trained and many of them now working in industry, leading their…

The purpose of this exploratory study was to gain a deeper understanding of how individuals in the Ozarks region of Missouri understand issues of poverty within their unique geographical, economic, and social contexts. The goal was to bridge the needs of poor communities and local organizational resources. Definitions and themes that emerged from…

The advent of the global information society and a myriad of other rapidly changing variables are presenting many new and unique challenges for the twenty-first century workforce, and perhaps the most pressing of these challenges is actually meeting the needs for qualified workers to fill the positions in emerging and growing fields. One such…

Five trends are emerging that will not only change the role of human capital in the United States but will also challenge the legacy system of workforce development, skills and competency-focused institutions, and assuredly, community colleges. Workforce investment boards, for example, are currently geographically constrained in environments that…

The "Dream It. Do It." campaign was launched by a community that cares about its growth, its future and the future of its young people. Launched as a joint initiative with the National Association of Manufacturers and its Manufacturing Institute in a bold and committed effort to fill the talent shortage looming for U.S. manufacturers,…

To strengthen extension programs in the six-county Meramec area of Missouri, the University of Missouri extension staff used Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) funds to train people to survey area rural residents, to provide jobs for CETA workers, and to present extension programs to residents, meshing extension and CETA programs.…

Missouri's diverse autonomous education system has embarked on a collaborative journey stimulated by average student performance, need for better college preparation, and concerns for a better-prepared workforce. Leaders from education, business, and government are collectively emphasizing a seamless educational system. Mathematics is the focus of…