In an open letter to employers published by RealClearEducation, Charles Koch Foundation Executive Director explains why throwing out degree requirements benefits both employers and the people they hire. “From my daily conversations with business leaders and entrepreneurs around the country, I know it is hard to find and keep motivated talent,” Stowers says. “A future of work where … Continued
Michael Horn is one of the nation’s leading thinkers examining how learning and work need to evolve to create a system that benefits both organizations and the people who work for them. His podcast, “The Future of Education,” examines how employers, educators, learners, and solution providers can work together to achieve that goal. In a … Continued
Hiring and developing people in their careers based on their unique talents and their desire to contribute will benefit employers and workers. The Skills First Future, a new initiative from the SHRM Foundation supported by the Charles Koch Foundation, Walmart, and the Workday Foundation, will accelerate the adoption of this mindset. Employers understand the mutual benefit of … Continued
A survey released last fall found 40 percent of business leaders believe recent college graduates are not prepared for the workforce. Stalled graduation rates — around 60 percent in recent years — has deepened the challenge. Postsecondary education institutions like Western Governors University are rethinking how they prepare learners for a job, but it has become increasingly clear that employers must … Continued
A career that connects to who you are as a person — your unique interests and skills — improves outcomes for both employees and employers. That insight is reflected in the 15 winners of the Catalyze Challenge, who are developing innovative programs that will help more Americans discover their unique purpose and gain the skills … Continued
Labor market data indicates that there are millions of jobs that employers cannot fill. But, according to Opportunity@Work CEO and Co-Founder Byron Auguste, there also are millions of Americans who have the skills to fill these jobs — and a unique desire to contribute. In a recent interview with Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) Executive Director Ryan Stowers, … Continued
Last fall, Stand Together, a philanthropic community the Charles Koch Foundation (CKF) is part of, partnered with Forbes to highlight the importance of lifelong learning and the value it provides to individuals, employers, and our society. This conversation between CKF’s Ryan Stowers and Mark Thain, Americas Head of Citizenship at Barclays, regarding their partnership with … Continued
Millions of Americans find purposeful, fulfilling work without a four-year degree, but the pressure to apply, enroll, and take on debt for college is real. Americans are “almost succumbing … to an idea that they have to do things a specific way: ‘I have to go to college. I don’t know what I want to … Continued
Today, too few Americans have access to the learning opportunities that will help them reach their potential or find a career that is meaningful to them. College is expensive or inflexible, and online courses do not have the structure or support to translate learning into a job. By combining technical training from industry-recognized partners with … Continued
Skills-based hiring — relying on applicants’ aptitudes and experience to determine whether they are a good fit for a job — is gaining popularity since it helps employers move past the antiquated system of evaluating talent based on degrees and toward a culture that treats applicants as individuals with unique potential and ability to contribute. To expand … Continued
