May 30, 2008

Conference on international best practices for a changing workforce

(Columbia, MD) – Howard Community College (HCC) is the member host of the 2008 annual conference of the Trans Atlantic Technology and Training Alliance (TA3) on Monday, June 2, in the Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall (RCF 400).  TA3 is a collaborative body of colleges in Europe and the U.S. established to support international learning, exchange and innovation, and to promote policies and research that support regional economic development.

The conference this year addresses international approaches and best practices for community and technical colleges to respond to the needs of a changing workforce, and what cultural competencies students need to compete in this new environment.

Keynote speaker Marc Tucker provides the framework for the conference with his observations on “New Solutions for a Changing Workforce.”  Tucker is one of the leaders of the standards movement in education, and president and chief executive officer of the National Center on Education and the Economy.  He created the first Commission on the Skills of the American Workforce in 1989 and co-authored its report, “America’s Choice: high skills or low wages!”  Tucker created a new Commission in 2005 and authored the report “Tough Choices or Tough Times” to analyze the changes in the global economy. 

Hanne Shapiro, head of the Centre for Policy Analysis, Technological Institute in Denmark, discusses recognition of informal and non-formal learning in her keynote address “Authenticating Work and Life Experience – the European Model.”  Shapiro has over 20 years experience with comparative analysis, evaluation, and policy development in vocational education and training, workforce development and lifelong learning.  She has been an advisor to the Danish Globalization Council as well as the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), and has conducted a number of studies on innovative methods to anticipate needed skills due to emerging industries or sector convergence.

The one-day conference also includes panels for TA3 colleges to share best practices.  A panel on “New Solutions” features Samuel Leiken, senior director of Policy Studies for the Council on Competitiveness Policy; Mary Ann Scully, president, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board of directors of Howard Bank; and Victor Hess, entrepreneur in residence, Howard County Neo Tech Incubator.  A panel on “Cultural Competencies” features Dr. Tom Tuttle, president of Tuttle Group.