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Last month, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation had the privilege of co-hosting a first-of-its-kind national gathering with CareerWise USA and the Center on the Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems at ETH Zurich in Switzerland.
Held in Colorado, the inaugural U.S. Advanced CEMETS Institute gathered representatives from Alabama, California, Colorado, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina and Utah—all of which are working to build new professional education and training pathways informed by Switzerland’s world-renowned Vocational and Professional Education and Training system.
Each state attending the Advanced Institute in Colorado previously had team members participate in the foundational version known as the CEMETS Institute, which is hosted by CEMETS in Zurich. There, participants learn about the Swiss system—plus similar systems in other countries—while exploring how to adapt key functional approaches of those systems at home.
The Advanced Institute gave these states a chance to take their work a step further, focusing on a shared realization: Employers must lead the way in designing and delivering work-based learning programs. While many states have convened meetings, formed committees and invited employers to participate, these efforts are often led by government agencies, colleges or nonprofit intermediaries. Employers might be at the table, but they’re not yet driving the conversation. The Advanced Institute focused on shifting this dynamic.
Indiana was featured as a leading example, thanks to the work of CEMETS iLab Indiana and its implementation of the new Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway. INCAP is a competency-based education and training pathway spanning industries, with both high school apprenticeships and adult training programs. Most important, it’s led by employers who are defining the skills and knowledge students need for the jobs of today and tomorrow. This ensures INCAP graduates will be prepared for in-demand careers, and employers will have access to well-prepared talent.
One of the most innovative aspects of INCAP is the creation of Industry Talent Associations, which the Fairbanks Foundation has supported with startup funding. ITAs bring together employers within a specific industry to identify priority occupations, define the competencies students need to demonstrate upon completing their program and develop standardized training manuals.
ITAs also collaborate with K-12 and higher-education partners to ensure classroom instruction aligns with real-world job requirements. For example, a high school student who wants to train as a health care assistant through the INCAP Apprenticeship Program will need to study anatomy and biology to prepare for patient interactions and basic clinical tasks. ITAs help ensure that kind of alignment happens.
Finally, the ITAs provide supervisor training to ensure employers are equipped to effectively manage both high school apprentices (through the INCAP Apprenticeship Program) and adult students (through the INCAP Career Program). To date, there are ITAs in advanced manufacturing and logistics, banking, construction, health care, life sciences and IT/technology.
Indiana’s team was proud to share the iLab story with other states, with an emphasis on how ITAs are positioning Indiana employers to take a leading role in talent development. We also strengthened our connections with the other state teams, which could support future efforts that allow INCAP credentials and degrees to be recognized across state lines, and vice versa.
I’m deeply grateful to the ITA leaders who are pioneering this work and to the many employers, educators, nonprofit and government partners who are helping bring INCAP to life. If you’re an employer interested in joining this effort, I encourage you to visit IndianaCAP.org/employers.•
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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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