Next Generation Career Pathways: A Manufacturing Case Study

According to The Getting Smart Blog, which features articles on higher education and lifelong learning, there are over three million unfilled, skilled jobs in the U.S., and two times as many disconnected youth. In Next Generation Career Pathways:  A Manufacturing Case Study, writers, Tom Vander Ark and Mary Ryerse present how new market demands are shaping the next generation of career and technical education in the U.S.

The paper addresses the following three issues, both nationally, and in the 15 Wisconsin education centers where GPS Education Partners operates:

  • Employability Gap. Outlines the inherent opportunity – both for organizations and for individuals – amidst the skill gap, with an emphasis on manufacturing.
  • Next Generation Career Technical Education (CTE). We know powerful next-gen learning experiences are blended, personalized, adaptive, immersive, applied, work-based and grounded in a competency-based approach. While most next-gen models touch on just one or two of these, CTE programs have the opportunity to lead the way and cast a new vision for next-gen models.
  • Case Study: GPS Education Partners. GPS Education Partners’ credentialed, competency-based, blended model offers authentic work-based learning experiences that extend throughout the educational continuum from K–12 to postsecondary to employment. GPS Education Partners works directly with local school districts and technical schools to implement this innovative learning and apprenticeship program.

Wisconsin colleagues, are you part of the GPS Education Partners' network?  How does the GPS model deliver on its applied learning, and blended delivery structure, in preparing students for success, while also advancing business partners' agility in the marketplace?

Mike Cruse

Career Pathways Moderator

michaelcruse74@gmail.com