ERIC Number: EJ1432318
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Aug
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1045-1595
EISSN: EISSN-2162-4070
A Case Study of Innovative Workplace Development Programming at Community Colleges in the United States
David A. Housel; Hannah Weinstock; Chandana Mahadeswaraswamy; Paula DaSilva Michelin
Adult Learning, v35 n3 p167-174 2024
Given changes in the 21st century workplace and expectations of employers, the notion that a bachelor's degree is the sole pathway to sustainable employment and a middle-class life in the United States has become obsolete. Many (e.g., Fleming, 2016) have argued that employers are now seeking employees with technical skills, digital literacy, and the ability to analyze and think critically, capabilities that do not necessarily require a postsecondary degree. Because of the lingering economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including rising inflation globally, many adults, including English-language learners, are seeking short-term certificate or credentialing programs because their financial realities necessitate entering the workplace and earning a living wage as quickly as possible. The need for effective credentialing programs that are connected to market sector demands in the local community can foster productive partnerships among educational programs/institutions, local businesses, and governmental agencies on the municipal, state, and federal levels. Such partnerships often occur in the adult and continuing education areas of community colleges, and this case study focuses on the timely and financially responsive programming and practices at one community college (4C) in the northeastern United States. Key components of their programming that have produced successful outcomes have been highlighted as well as how they might be modified to address the marketplace and educational needs of adult learners in other areas of the United States and internationally.
Descriptors: Community College Students, Employment Potential, Special Degree Programs, Credentials, Partnerships in Education, Employment Qualifications, 21st Century Skills, Program Effectiveness, Job Skills, Educational Needs, Adult Learning, Labor Force Development, Student Centered Learning, Cultural Context, Financial Support, Educational Innovation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges; Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A