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How To Create the Skilled Workforce We Need
Many workers can't afford to forego their salary while they pursue greater educational attainment.
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Business New Haven
11/22/1999
By: BNH
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As we speed toward the end of the century, the state's wrenching recession is mostly forgotten. Few, however, had the courage a half -dozen years ago to predict the shortage of skilled workers that exists at Connecticut companies today.
Labor shortages exist in all areas of skilled employment. Communications companies are hungry for the English majors whose degrees were so derided just a few years ago. Hospitals are stretching their registered nursing staffs. Computer and programming jobs are going largely unfilled. Even the downsized and maligned middle management job of the early '90s is making a comeback - or would be, if only the managers could be found somewhere.
Where are these workers? Well, they're probably not coming from other states. The strong economy in Connecticut and the skilled worker shortage mirrors the rest of the Northeast, and many parts of the nation, as well. Without labor resources, a company and the economy can't grow. Finding skilled personnel is critical to every company and the state of Connecticut for growth to continue.
That's the bad news; here's the good: The solution may lie in non-traditional approaches for training, educating and accrediting educational and life experiences.
Many workers are well positioned to move up to greater job responsibilities or to acquire new skills. They need further education and, for many companies and organizations, college credentials. The dilemma, of course, is time and cost. Companies may feel they can ill afford to lose workers to further schooling. Likewise, many workers can't afford to forego their salary while they pursue greater educational attainment. Family responsibilities can reduce flexibility to attend classes, making further education beyond reach.
Several solutions are coming into focus - and just in time. Today there are a wide variety of tactics, such as distance learning via the Internet, college credit by examination, increasingly common granting of credit between colleges, video courses, even college credit for life and work experience.
All of these approaches fit into a growing recognition that some students, with proper guidance, can successfully undertake a process of individualized study. Also recognized is that corporate and military training, as well as life and work experience and self-directed study, can forge a level of competence that is deserving of college credentials.
While this recognition is growing, traditional educational institutions are still moving carefully. Students seeking advancement in a flexible and self-directed model will still likely find greater success in crafting an individualized program of study and obtaining college credit in a non-traditional college program.
Perhaps the most talked-about new development in college education is distance learning. Students in increasing numbers - right now about 1,300 in Connecticut - are taking college-level courses over the Internet. These interactive online courses offer full college credit. Courses are offered by several colleges and universities statewide, and the list is growing each semester. Online courses help provide students the flexibility they need to complete their education and earn a degree.
Another important trend is greater acceptance of credits from one institution to another. As society's workers grow more mobile and spread their advanced education over many years, this flexibility is becoming increasingly necessary. While this trend is increasing among traditional colleges, non-traditional colleges will accept all courses from any accredited college or university toward a degree.
Military education and training is another source of potential college credits.
Another source of potential college credit are existing skills that the worker or manager may have obtained through years of work experience. These skills can earn college credit in two ways: college credit by examination, and recognition of a direct life and work experience.
Credit by examination is available by passing an exam given in a particular course of study. One such test, the College Level Exam Program (CLEP) is accepted by most institutions. Students must inquire which, if any, of these examinations and credits will be accepted by the college of their choice. All are likely to be accepted in non-traditional programs.
Will education go virtual, with self-directed study the norm - particularly for those already in the workforce? Probably yes, but it will take some time for many institutions to catch up to this virtual reality. Those seeking a flexible education and credentials now may have to seek out institutions designed for this new educational experience.
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