Gloucester / Cape Ann Business Roundtable on Vocational Training
Gloucester / Cape Ann Business Roundtable on Vocational Training
The Gloucester/Cape Ann Business Roundtable on vocational training was the first one of a series of meetings that brought together community leaders and stakeholders to discuss major challenges. The event was of particular interest because it gathered leaders from various groups: employers, public and private education, government leaders (city and state), politicians and civic-minded citizens.
Questions that were discussed included: How do we create student friendly work places? How do we get teachers exposed to the private sector? How do we prepare young people, who want to work in the fishing business – the main pillar of Gloucester’s economy – for a rapidly changing industry? How can public-private partnerships address the growing skills gaps and the high youth unemployment rate in the US?
Prof. Robert Schwartz from the Harvard Graduate School of Education shared many of these concerns. His report “Pathways to Prosperity” puts in question the common view that College is the only “acceptable route to success”. Only 30 percent of all 25-year old Americans hold a Bachelor’s degree, while for many other young people this educational path is not affordable or not relevant. In return, this leads to skill gaps as companies are looking for a middle-skilled workforce with the appropriate manual skills and practical training.
It is against this background that the presentation of the Swiss VET system, with its dual-track approach, provided a welcoming input into discussion. Roundtable participants were particularly interested in the strong partnership between vocational schools and private industry. During their apprenticeship, apprentices typically spend 3 – 4 days working in their company, and 1 – 2 days at school. One key ingredient for the sustainable success of the Swiss model, participants learned, is that Swiss apprentices are fully integrated in their respective companies and, thus, cost less than what they produce.
The group discussion was organized and led with a lot of enthusiasm and engagement by Joan Whitney, Director Healthy Gloucester Collaborative, and Joe Rose, V.P Gloucester Education Foundation. As a follow-up to the roundtable, a second meeting is already in planning for February, as well as a proposal of various actions to “use our collective strength to expand pathways that engage youth and young adults in hope of a future that values their unique strengths”.
