IOWA CITY, Iowa—ACT is convening educators, workforce professionals, economic developers and employers, along with national, state and community leaders at its fourth annual ACT Workforce Symposium, which kicks off today in Nashville, Tennessee.
This year’s Workforce Symposium—running September 19-20—brings together workforce development and career leaders from across the country to advance the national dialogue on workforce innovations and best practices.
“The Symposium is a great occasion for us to gather the brightest minds in workforce development to discuss workforce challenges, opportunities and innovations occurring daily at the local, state and national level,” said Scott Montgomery, senior vice president of public affairs at ACT. “It’s also an opportunity for ACT to reaffirm its commitment to the workforce and career space and remind the nation that we are investing in the workforce of tomorrow.”
Presenters will cover findings and discuss strategies on topics ranging from career readiness in the U.S. to the importance of competency-based hiring and instruction in producing a talented workforce to the quality dimensions of credentials and how best to communicate them.
“It is no longer enough to assess only a candidate’s technical skills in the hiring process,” said Barbara Bichelmeyer, provost and executive vice chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, who will deliver the opening keynote address. “ACT knows that employers are looking for candidates who possess core competencies of career readiness, like critical thinking and problem solving, as well as teamwork and collaboration. These skills can and should be taught in classrooms and office buildings alike, incorporating technologies that reach students where they are and further the impact of instruction.”
In addition to several panel discussions and two other keynote addresses, by Jeff Finkle, president and chief executive officer of the International Economic Development Council, and Dr. Deborah Everhart, vice president of design and innovation at Learning Objects, ACT will share its current national workforce development efforts with local community and regional leaders.
The National Workforce Solutions Advisory Board, which has been instrumental in helping ACT successfully launch its ACT Work Ready Communities initiative, will participate in select panel sessions and discuss its expanded role to build new relationships at the national level.
At the local level, participation in the ACT Work Ready Communities initiative continues to rise, with 140 counties now being recognized as certified ACT Work Ready Communities. Likewise, nearly 15,000 employers are recognizing or recommending the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate™ (ACT NCRC) in their hiring practices, and individuals are experiencing the benefits of possessing a quality credential, with over 3.5 million individuals having earned an ACT NCRC®.