Propero Learning Systems’ recent Accelerate2024 conference brought into sharp focus a critical challenge facing our national skills ecosystem: the growing disconnect between post-secondary institutions and industry sectors. A recent survey of 102 national industry associations found a staggering 68% have not collaborated with post-secondary institutions to co-develop curriculum or create meaningful skills pathways. Among those who tried, few reported successful outcomes. The barriers are familiar to many of us: bureaucratic timelines that render technical knowledge obsolete before courses launch, curriculum control mechanisms that limit industry input, and economic models that make collaboration prohibitively expensive. These are not just academic problems—they are strategic challenges that directly impact our ability to develop the talent pipeline our organizations desperately need.
But this is not a moment for frustration; it is an opportunity for strategic redesign. Our most innovative companies have always solved complex problems by creating new frameworks, and now we must apply that same creative thinking to skills development. We need to move beyond traditional engagement models and develop dynamic, real-time collaboration mechanisms that allow for rapid curriculum adaptation, meaningful industry input, and economically viable continuing education programs.
The economic development implications are profound. By creating more responsive skills ecosystems, we can dramatically reduce talent gaps, accelerate workforce readiness, and enhance our national and regional productivity. This requires a willingness to challenge existing structures, invest in new collaborative models, and view educational institutions not as distant entities, but as critical strategic partners in our economic future.
This is not an occasion for resignation, but for innovation. Our academic institutions have always been at the forefront of societal transformation, and now we are called to reimagine our approach to skills development. The traditional model of curriculum development—insulated and slow-moving—is no longer tenable in an economy characterized by rapid technological shifts and evolving workforce needs. We must become more agile, more responsive, and more collaborative.
The challenge before us is to deconstruct the existing paradigms. We need to create flexible, dynamic pathways for industry input, accelerate our curriculum development processes, and develop more economically accessible continuing education models. This requires breaking down internal silos, re-examining our governance structures, and cultivating a mindset of continuous adaptation. Our institutions have the creative genius to lead this transformation—we simply need the collective will to do so.
The time for admiration of these challenges has passed. Now is the moment of action. We invite academic and industry leaders across sectors to join us in pioneering a new approach to skills ecosystem development—one where industry and education are true, responsive partners in preparing our workforce for the future. Together, we can transform our approach, close the skills gap, and position our organizations and our nation for sustained economic success.