Q&A speaks with Andrea Comer, executive director, CBIA Education & Workforce Partnership, for this week’s Friday Focus on Technology.
Q. The CBIA Education and Workforce Partnership launched recently at the Mark Twain House. What were some elements of the partnership highlighted at the launch?
A. The launch provided an opportunity for us to introduce our expanded 20-member Board of Directors and to heighten awareness of our new name. But more importantly it offered some of our program participants the chance to share how our work has had an impact. From a high school senior who has benefited greatly from the National Academy Foundation model, to a program manager at Lantern Energy who was involved with the eesmarts Green STEP program, our education and workforce development programs are shaping the state’s future workforce.
Q. One aspect of the launch was the focus on Nepal 2.0, the story of students from Hartford’s Academy of Engineering and Green Technology who developed a wind and solar powered system that brought electricity to two Nepalese villages for the first time. Is Nepal 2.0 emblematic of the programs you’re hoping to launch?
A. Nepal has taught us the power of project-based learning and is an approach we certainly want to replicate. In fact we have had conversations with Department of Correction Commissioner Scott Semple on project-based learning as an approach to position returning citizens for success in terms of skill-building and giving back to the communities they will call home.
Q. Recently a UConn professor released an academic paper on career and tech-education programs in New York City. One of the issues he encountered was rigid guidelines that seemed inflexible in terms of exacting standards on who could teach career and tech ed programs. There is more of an emphasis on academic credentials instead of real-life professional experience. Is that going to be a concern for what the partnership is trying to accomplish?
A. The academic credential requirement has certainly been a challenge, for the manufacturing sector in particular. CBIA is confronting this head-on from a legislative standpoint, aggressively advocating for House Bill 5468, which would establish a task force to examine the barriers to recruiting manufacturing teachers. That said, the upside is the urgency of the workforce gap has strengthened the spirit of collaboration and willingness to think outside the box. And that’s exactly what our work entails.
Q. You started in your role last fall. What are some of the early accomplishments you can point towards with the partnership? Have you encountered any resistance to your efforts?
A. The first accomplishment was rebranding the organization. As a name, the Education Foundation was a misnomer, as we don’t give away money – in fact, we pursue grants to implement our work. The new name is a more accurate reflection of what we do: Serving as a bridge between education and business to ensure the workforce has the skills needed to grow our economy. I’m also working to increase awareness of our programs in urban centers, where the state’s population is growing and a disproportionate gap exists between jobseekers and emerging sectors. For example, we are working to create career pathways for North Hartford Promise Zone residents, and partnering with local business development corporations such as HEDCO to strengthen disadvantaged businesses.
Q. How flexible do you find the partnership has to be in its goals? Do demands change too quickly to meet the training needs? It seems like skills being taught to a high school freshman could become obsolete by freshman year in college.
A. Honestly, it depends on the sector. The manufacturing industry is ever-evolving, especially as technology advancements become more integrated in the industry. Other industries, such as distribution or logistics have a little more consistency. What all employers have indicated however, regardless of sector is the need for “soft” skills, and the need for math proficiency is a must for many industries. What sets the Partnership apart is that we have consistent input from our member businesses, and they ensure we are forward-thinking in our approach.
Q. A lot of the focus, rightly so, is on career training and meeting the needs of employers. But what about the artist or the musician? Funding tends to be cut in those areas in public schools. Is there a future where budding artists might receive training through your partnership?
A. The Rawson Lighthouse School, one of our Hartford Public Schools partnerships, has a STEAM (STEM with arts integration) focus. The district recognized that the arts play a critical role in developing our future talent pipeline, whether you are an artist or not. Moreover, manufacturing companies realize that many of the skills needed for their businesses are aligned with students who have a passion for art. Manufacturing is about creating things, so it taps into a very similar mindset. I also hope to establish a training program for graphic arts careers, particularly since the state’s STEP UP program supports hiring in that field.
Friday Focus is an online-only weekly series of columns focusing on human resource, business legal issues, technology, and marketing. Interested in participating? Send an email to Keith Griffin at kgriffin@hartfordbusiness.com.
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