Claire Fiddian-Green: Celebrate the new INCAP this World Youth Skills Day

July 15 is when countries around the globe celebrate World Youth Skills Day, a day to recognize how vitally important it is to prepare young people for meaningful careers through education and training that combines both practical and theoretical skills development. It feels especially appropriate this year to recognize and thank the more than 300 dedicated Hoosier business, education, government and nonprofit leaders who are part of a statewide initiative—called CEMETS iLab Indiana—working to launch the Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway, or INCAP for short. 

INCAP starts with labor-market-aligned career advising in eighth grade, is rooted in a high school apprenticeship program starting in either 10th or 11th grade, and continues with education and training programs that help adult workers prepare for higher-skilled jobs or even transition to a new career. What’s more, INCAP includes structured pathways that allow high school students and adult learners to transition to college, if they choose to do so. In a nutshell, INCAP—combined with the traditional high school-to-college pathway—will ensure Hoosiers of all ages can access multiple education and training options that prepare them for great careers.

I just returned from my fourth time attending a global summer learning program in Switzerland called CEMETS Institute, hosted by ETH Zurich, one of the top universities in the world. Attendees must apply as teams and identify a problem they’re working to solve in their own country (or state, in the case of the United States). Indiana’s team this year focused on how to successfully support employers of all sizes, in every industry, and in every part of the state interested in implementing INCAP programs for high school students and adults.

A feature of the summer institute is visiting Swiss employers with thriving apprenticeship and adult education and training programs, which is the inspiration for INCAP. During these visits, the star of the show is always the apprentices, ages 15 through 18, who amaze us all with their demonstrated professionalism and excellent English and public-speaking skills. Before and after the Institute, I also had a few sidebar visits with representatives from the industries where Indiana is starting its INCAP efforts: advanced manufacturing, banking, health care and the life sciences.

Four of the Swiss employers I visited in June include: Buhler, a multinational plant equipment manufacturer; Medartis, a medical device manufacturer with a location in Warsaw; Novartis, a global pharmaceutical corporation with a location in Indianapolis; and University Hospital Zurich, an academic medical center.

During these visits, I heard the same two messages about why employers engage so heavily in the education and training process starting in the 10th grade. First, employers know they need to be co-producers of talent, especially for learners who thrive in programs that combine practical and theoretical learning. By doing so, employers will better meet their own talent pipeline needs. Second, helping to educate both young people and adults is good for society and the economy, leading to low unemployment—especially for teenagers—and good median wages for the adult workforce.

As one University Hospital Zurich high school apprentice dressed in scrubs put it, she applied for an apprenticeship program because she wanted more hands-on learning, and she really likes earning a paycheck. She also really enjoys taking care of patients.

After our visit, she returned to her work on a patient floor. This is the kind of learning experience INCAP is working to build for students and employers across our state. That is an outcome worth celebrating.•

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Fiddian-Green is president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, whose mission is to advance the vitality of Indianapolis and the well-being of its people. Send comments to [email protected].

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