A recent infographic released by the Council of Post-Secondary Education In Kentucky indicates that the majority of Generation Z feels pressured to pursue a traditional four-year degree and would rather explore other educational options that allow them to learn skills over a lifetime rather than all at once. For those staff and faculty in traditional higher education, this begs the question as to the role that these individuals should have in supporting and developing these alternatives. For...

Microcredentials, stackable credentials, certification, and badging are just a few of the names for alternative training and credits that focus on providing needed skills to students and workers. As our system continues to evolve the understanding of the importance of these types of programs in both the workforce and academic sectors, there is an opportunity for the Cooperative Extension Service (CES) to leverage their connections with communities and the Land-Grant University System. With a...

A recent news article revealed that only a handful of states have issued guidance for educators on the subject of AI in K-12 education. Despite this, there’s a swift transition towards supporting youth education that focuses on the skills and ethics required to utilize generative AI tools in professional settings. The Cooperative Extension Service system, a significant advocate for workforce development opportunities for both youth and adults, urgently needs to create high-quality...

Hello Mark, Here at Oregon State University, I have been doing presentations and basic training on AI for Extension faculty and staff. We are also starting to work on this at the university level. We are having an "AI Week" in April with workshops and talks on AI for education, professional development and workforce development. With my new position as Broadband & Digital Technologies Adoption Coordinator, I am starting to field AI questions and requests for presentations and education...

Schools across the nation are experiencing challenges in filling teaching positions in career and technical education. This article provides more information about this needs and prompts the question, "Is the Cooperative Extension Service positioned to help bridge this gap by partnering with schools?". https://www.brookings.edu/articles/career-and-technical-education-is-a-hidden-weak-spot-in-many-high-schools-teacher-workforces/ *Accompanying image created using Microsoft CoPilot AI.

In Missouri, we have seen similar issues in some data analysis we've done on behalf of our Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. For people responding to the survey from within the educational system, turnover was one of the biggest impediments to growing their CTE programs and building student awareness and interest in those programs.

A recent multi-institution study found that over 90% of surveyed faculty had students contact them for career advice. Of those 90%, only about 70% indicated they had worked with their institutions career centers. This gap can create challenges or missed opportunities for students. Additionally, many faculty might be missing the value of connecting with departments that are engaging with clientele and communities outside the university (such as the Cooperative Extension Service). Graduating...

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Right on! Yes, we see the need in our rural region for support, and with the networks and grant development from Extension and 4-H, we are supporting CTE in schools in Wahkiakum County, Washington. We partner with schools and industry to create in-school learning opportunities with career exploration in advanced manufacturing, maritime and IT, K-12.

We are currently witnessing a transformative era, often referred to as the “AI Revolution”. This revolution is characterized by the rapid integration of a relatively new technology, generative AI, into diverse fields such as art, education, and information dissemination. For both current job seekers and those preparing for future careers, mastering the use of generative AI has become an essential skill. This mastery extends beyond merely knowing how to request information. It also involves...

As businesses continue to move toward prioritizing job skills over degrees to ensure workforce readiness, the Cooperative Extension Service is in a key position to support this transition. This ensures a trained workforce with access to BOTH skill based AND academic education. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jobs-college-degree-requirement/ *Image created using Microsoft CoPilot

Are today's high school graduates the "Microcredential Generation"? This article explores why many are pursuing this pathway to a career over more traditional post secondary education. Associated image is from Inside Higher Education and taken from the article website.