Jobs for the Future, edX launch no-cost MicroBachelors program to prepare people for meaningful work
A postsecondary education program that efficiently prepares adult learners for meaningful work — and comes with no price tag? It is not a pipe dream. Jobs for the Future (JFF) and edX, a leading global online learning platform, have launched the edX MicroBachelors® Program Pathway Initiative, which will connect up to 500 adults with edX’s … Continued
In case you missed it: Ryan Stowers outlines bottom-up solution for securing academic freedom
In a recent op-ed in Inside Higher Ed, Charles Koch Foundation Executive Director Ryan Stowers argues open inquiry on college campuses faces significant challenges, but sweeping, top-down legislative solutions risk making them worse. While public leaders play a role in protecting the rights of students and scholars at public colleges and universities, recent legislative trends telling faculty and … Continued
The principles that drive the Institute for Humane Studies
Charles Koch Foundation Executive Director Ryan Stowers recently sat down with Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) President and CEO Emily Chamlee-Wright to discuss the principles that animate IHS and the scholars the organization supports, how these principles drive human progress, and why openness on campus and in society is necessary to solve the world’s toughest … Continued
In case you missed it: Ryan Stowers on reducing student debt and honoring the dignity of every learner
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled President Joe Biden’s student debt forgiveness program unconstitutional. The White House and federal lawmakers are now exploring other ways to help borrowers. But focusing on student debt alone will not solve the college cost crisis — and it will not help people discover their unique interests and aptitudes, says … Continued
Horizons Summit 2023: The mutual benefit of employers rethinking talent pipelines
In June, the Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) sponsored the Horizons Summit, presented by Jobs for the Future, in New Orleans. The two-day conference focused on investing in human potential and redesigning talent pipelines so they work for both workers and employers. Case studies show how employers can change talent strategies mindset Two CKF partners, Per … Continued
Opportunity@Work’s Stellarworx platform promotes hiring based on skills, aptitudes, and mindset
Major employers — including the state governments of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Utah — have done away with bachelor’s degree requirements for many jobs, opening up opportunities for millions of Americans. Yet, research shows most hiring managers still prioritize a bachelor’s degree in their hiring decisions even though millions of U.S. jobs go unfilled month after month. To find workers for these open positions, … Continued
In case you missed it: Ryan Stowers on making education — and work — work for more peopleÂ
The U.S. labor force participation rate has plummeted over the last generation. Why are millions of potential workers dropping out of the workforce? Because when it comes to getting a job, skills matter — but when it comes to staying in a job, purpose matters. Americans want their work to connect to what gives them meaning. As … Continued
SHRM Foundation Toolkit: A blueprint for advancing skills-based hiring
Almost every industry is having trouble filling job openings. To fill more positions while finding the right person for the job, employers can turn to skills-based hiring. Helping employers understand skills-based hiring According to SHRM, 72 percent of U.S. workers believe skilled credentials are an affordable way to gain the skills or experience necessary to find … Continued
UNC Criminal Justice Innovation Lab: Improving criminal justice systems through data and research
While Americans rate community safety, law enforcement, and crime as some of the issues that concern them most, it is challenging to get basic information and data regarding how state and local criminal justice systems function. The University of North Carolina’s (UNC) Criminal Justice Innovation Lab addresses that gap by producing foundational research, executing innovative pilot projects, … Continued
Tribal leaders, CKF grantees build talent marketplace for Navajo Nation jobs
The Navajo Nation is one of the largest Native American tribes in North America, but tribal members are moving away from the community’s land at an astonishing rate. More than one-third of members no longer live within the Navajo Nation’s borders and, each year, about 3,500 high school graduates relocate. Structural barriers to economic opportunity … Continued