Latest news with #workforcedevelopment
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
NSF Announces Candidates For Tech-Based Economic Development Funding
29 states spanning thirty-three states are semifinalists to win a significant award from the U.S. ... More National Science Foundation to boost economic growth around emerging technology sectors. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced semifinalists for a signature federal funding program to promote economic growth around advanced and emerging technology sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnologies, quantum science, and advanced manufacturing. Earlier this month, the science agency announced that 29 teams are semifinalists for the Regional Innovation Engines awards–narrowing down candidates from nearly 300 letters of interest in the program of which 71 teams were invited to submit proposals for the national competition. Authorized under the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 and spearheaded by NSF's new Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate, also created under the law, the NSF Engines program aim to spur public-private partnerships to advance R&D, technology development, and workforce development with a goal of boosting U.S. regions that have the potential to be globally competitive hubs for emerging technology industries. NSF Engines provide up to $160 million over ten years to support place-based consortiums of a broad coalition of groups. Under the awards, universities and community colleges, businesses, state and local governments, economic development organizations, non-profit R&D institutes, labor unions, and other entities unite to accelerate economic development and spur job creation in regional innovation ecosystems. With a footprint spanning thirty-three states from Alaska to Arkansas, the semifinalists for the second cohort NSF Engine award proposals emphasize projects that aim to grow industry clusters around a number of Trump administration tech priority areas ranging from boosting critical mineral mining to quantum information science to competing in the global race to lead in artificial intelligence. "Each team was selected because it brought strong public and private partners to the table and outlined a promising vision for research, innovation and workforce development in their respective regions of service, thereby advancing U.S competitiveness, national security and economic growth," said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF's assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, the agency's tech arm created under the CHIPS Act. The announcement comes as the first cohort of nine NSF Engines report early outcomes over the past two years of work including securing more than $1 billion in matching commitments to the $135 million in public funding the agency awarded to the teams. A key goal of the program is to attract non-governmental investment into technology-driven economic development from industry and philanthropic partners. A breakdown of the semifinalists, their locations, and technology focus areas can be found in the chart belo. 29 semifinalists hope to join the current cohort of 9 NSF Engines. Regions Seek NSF Engines Funding as NSF's Budget Hangs in the Balance On July 10, 2025, Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican chairing the Senate Appropriations ... More subcommittee which presides over the NSF budget, signaled only a modest cut to the NSF. The announcement is welcome news among science and tech leaders who have worried that the signature program could be subject to funding cuts sought by the Trump administration. Although the CHIPS Act provided some of the initial funding, the program has not received the full appropriations to match the authorizations Congress set out in the bill. In congressional budget processes, authorizations establish or modify government programs while appropriations provide the actual funding for those programs. Different congressional committees preside over appropriations and authorizations in the house and senate. Without increased appropriations for the Engines and the technology directorate at NSF, NSF Engines partners, current and future, may be at risk. Since the Trump administration returned to power in January, the NSF has been subjugated to an intense round of layoffs, grant cancellations, and scrutiny from ex-Trump advisor Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. The turmoil led to the early resignation of Trump-appointed NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan in April. In May, the Trump administration proposed gutting the NSF with a 56% budget cut which led to outcry from a broad bipartisan coalition of economists, national security experts, universities, community colleges, science groups, and industry leaders who say that such cuts would undermine global competitiveness and domestic economic development by shortchanging STEM workforce training and research. A recent report from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation detailed some of the early outcomes of the NSF's technology directorate presiding over NSF Engines and urged Congress to appropriate all of the $20 billion it was authorized under the CHIPS Act. To date, Congress has only provided a 2% appropriations of that amount. NSF Engines Teams on Program's Economic Impact As Congress weighs the future of the NSF, NSF Engines semifinalists are hopeful that funding will be ... More available for the agency to make the awards. Congress is still weighing the final budget for the NSF, but house and senate appropriators are poised to maintain or cut the agency's budget. NSF Engines semifinalists are holding out that the many hours of coalition building and proposal development pay dividends. While many of the first NSF Engines cohort members were anchored in metro regions such as Tempe, Arizona and Orlando, Florida, the second cohort of applicants comprise many rural and rural-serving proposals which seek NSF Engines funding to help their regions benefit from the innovation economy. Arjun Sanga, president of WiSys, a non-profit economic development organization based in Madison, Wisconsin, is a lead of one of the proposals selected as an NSF Engines semifinalists. Their NSF Engine proposal, Forward Agriculture, would position Wisconsin as a national leader in the circular bioeconomy with a focus on strengthening the state's agricultural industry. 'We are the Dairy State, and agriculture is central to Wisconsin's economy. We must innovate and find new areas to support the farming industry, to make sure the people who feed us can stay in business as there continues to be incredible pressure on farmers across the country," Sanga shared in an email statement. According to Sanga, what's unique about the Engines program is its focus on long-term investments and its focus on public and private partnerships. He hopes his coalition could utilize technology to revitalize the local economy. 'Agriculture is important to Wisconsin and accounts for 12% of the labor force but we are seeing 25% fewer small farms which impacts rural economies and jobs,' he told me. 'That's not a statistic that unique to Wisconsin. Our initial estimates tell us that winning an Engine could have $60 million in impact in the first two years that will generate new jobs.' Peter Dorhout, Vice President for Research at Iowa State University, holds a similar hope for his NSF Engine proposal, Rural STAMINA, is also focused on growing the bioeconomy in rural Iowa and Nebraska. He emphasized the connectivity of its proposal on both regional tech-based economic growth and contributing to national security priorities. 'The President's recent National Farm Security Action Plan states that, the production of key agricultural inputs and materials' is of vital importance, and reliance on other countries for inputs to give American consumers access to food and other valuable agricultural products is a national security concern,' Dorhout emphasized. The Rural STAMINA Engine proposal aims to create an interconnected regional network of advanced biomanufacturing facilities and promote workforce training to address those concerns. As congressional budget debates rages on, the Engines competition continue on for the foreseeable future. During the next stage, NSF will conduct additional assessments of the semifinalist teams to gain a better understanding of their regional coalitions, the alignment of their proposed leadership teams and partners, and their vision for tethering technology and talent development through the award. While the total number of awards is contingent on final funding appropriations from Congress, the NSF anticipates announcing the final winners of NSF Engines awards in early 2026.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Business Leaders Can Step Up And Support Young People Who Want To Enter The Workforce
Gary Ivory is the president and CEO of Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. Young people's access to educational and vocational opportunities is crucial for communities to thrive. Consider a study published in 2016 that looked at the 'relationship between intergenerational educational pathways and crime in the United States.' The researchers found that 'downward educational pathways were predictive of increases in crime, whereas upward pathways were associated with decreases in crime.' In other words, young people who surpassed their parents' education level, especially those who received a four-year college degree when their parents didn't, were less likely to be involved in criminal activity as young adults. As for youth workforce development being vital for communities to thrive, a report published in 2022 by the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-Pal), which examined summer youth employment programs (SYEPs), shed light on the issue. One finding? 'There is promising evidence that SYEPs have positive effects on a range of youth development outcomes including socio-emotional skills, academic and career aspirations, and work habits associated with job readiness.' My experience working with young people in various communities has shown me that when young people have educational and workforce development opportunities, they are more likely to become productive and hardworking members of society, which in turn strengthens communities and the economy. Businesses, both large and small, can play a crucial role in this process. Business leaders can help young people get the support they need to explore and pursue educational and vocational opportunities. Why Business Leaders Should Get Involved One conversation can completely change the course of a young person's life. I've found this to be especially true for young people facing complex life circumstances, such as poverty and instability at home. Unfortunately, I've observed that there is a narrative that some young people are not capable of succeeding because of the obstacles they've faced in life, because of their neighborhoods or zip codes. But my team and I have found that this isn't true—they are capable of contributing at a high level. Be it through offering funding, educational or employment opportunities or mentorship, business leaders can ignite life-changing conversations. For instance, a young person who receives a college scholarship funded by a local business may end up in a psychology class, where speaking with their professor puts them on a path toward pursuing a graduate degree in the field. A medical clinic that opens its doors to young people to shadow physicians can spark behind-the-scenes conversations that inspire them to pursue careers in healthcare. A mentor who sits down with a young person and explains their career path can introduce them to a type of job they didn't even know existed. Helping young people become invested in their education and career benefits everyone. Free market capitalism requires that there are enough people capable of filling jobs. When business leaders help connect youths to educational and workforce development opportunities, they are shaping the workers of tomorrow—and the futures of their communities. How Business Leaders Can Contribute There are three main ways that business leaders can contribute to helping young people secure educational and workforce development opportunities. As I mentioned earlier, those three ways are via offering funding, educational or employment opportunities or mentorship. Starting with funding, business leaders can contribute to educational scholarships and other funds, such as internship stipends and transportation subsidies. For example, at my nonprofit, we created a scholarship, funded by employee donations, for systems-involved program participants and their parents and guardians. Financial support can help young people facing challenging situations participate in educational or vocational endeavors. For instance, a college scholarship can help a young person from a low-income household pay tuition fees and purchase books and meals, giving them the chance to work toward a degree. An internship stipend can make it possible for a young person to take a summer opportunity that they otherwise couldn't have if the internship were unpaid. A transportation subsidy could help a young person without a car purchase a bus pass so they can get to and from work. Business leaders can also create educational or employment opportunities for youths. By doing so, businesses can get extra help, and young people can gain valuable experience. For instance, for my nonprofit's Supported Work program, we partner with companies to provide subsidized employment opportunities to participating young people. Additionally, business leaders can offer their time and serve as mentors, sharing their career paths and experiences with young people. For instance, my nonprofit designed a curriculum to prepare individuals who face employment barriers for jobs that align with their gifts and talents. Business leaders can create and run their own programs to offer funding, educational or employment opportunities or mentorship. Or they can collaborate with nonprofits to do so. There are pros and cons to each approach. For example, an advantage of a business's leaders creating and running their own mentorship program for their community is that they will have more oversight of the process. However, a disadvantage is that they will have to navigate challenges, such as behavioral and mental health obstacles that participants might face, on their own, rather than working with nonprofits that specialize in navigating workforce development challenges. The Key Principles For Success Regardless of how business leaders choose to get involved or whether or not they decide to roll out initiatives on their own or collaborate with nonprofits, based on my experience, there are two key principles for success when working with young people to connect them to educational and vocational opportunities. First, business leaders should meet young people where they are. Young people have different educational and career goals, and that's OK. For instance, some may need support getting their GEDs. Some might need math tutoring. Some might want to learn a trade, such as welding. Others might want to pursue art school. Regardless of what the specific goals are, business leaders should respect them. Second, business leaders should be authentic. I've found that young people want authenticity and respond to genuine interactions. By being themselves, business leaders can show young people possibilities, and young people can go out and turn those possibilities into realities, ultimately strengthening their communities. Forbes Nonprofit Council is an invitation-only organization for chief executives in successful nonprofit organizations. Do I qualify?
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Charter Schools Are Key To America's Talent Pipeline
Schools like Yass Prize 2023 Quarterfinalists Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School, in ... More Bessemer, AL are providing critical training to bolster U.S. students' competitiveness in the national and world economies. Amid the surge of headlines about school choice expansion — from education savings accounts in Texas and Wyoming to voucher reforms in Idaho — a quieter, equally powerful story has unfolded: the resurgence of charter school growth and the laws enabling it. In just the past year, North Dakota became the 47th state to authorize charter schools, breaking a decades-long holdout. Iowa leapt from 31st to 11th in the Center for Education Reform's (CER) national charter law rankings after passing sweeping reforms. Indiana closed funding gaps by requiring districts to share property tax revenue with charters serving their students. And Georgia began offering financial incentives — alongside tighter accountability — to encourage the approval of high-quality charter proposals. Why does this matter beyond education? Because charter schools are proving to be engines of talent development, economic mobility, and innovation in cities and states hungry for a skilled, adaptable workforce. Consider Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School, where students train for careers in a booming sector critical to U.S. competitiveness. Or Oakmont Education in Ohio and Iowa, which provides thousands of students with hands-on pathways to careers in construction, healthcare, and IT. Arizona Autism Charter Schools offers a groundbreaking model for neurodiverse learners, while Urban Assembly Charter School for Computer Science in the Bronx pairs computer science instruction with real-world internships at top tech firms. These aren't isolated success stories — they are the product of policy environments that give families choice and allow innovators to build solutions from the ground up. Federal policymakers are starting to take notice. Senators Cassidy (R-La.) and Bennet (D-Colo.) have reintroduced the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act to help charter schools overcome longstanding barriers to growth. And the U.S. Senate HELP Committee held a dedicated hearing this spring on charter innovation — a rare acknowledgment in Washington that charter schools are central to America's education future. CER's Parent Power! Index tracks these trends nationally, underscoring that strong charter laws don't just impact families — they help states attract entrepreneurs, develop talent pipelines, and create education ecosystems that serve both students and the economy. For states seeking to win the race for talent and opportunity, charter school policy is no longer a sideline issue. It's a smart investment in the future — and one they can't afford to ignore.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Google's Building The Workforce Higher Ed Promised—But Never Delivered
Google is addressing the growing skills gap in the labor market by developoing its own talent ... More pipeline—training workers directly in AI and digital tools to meet evolving industry demands (Photo by) This isn't education reform. It's a corporate takeover of the nation's talent pipeline. On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at the Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh, Google officially launched 'AI Works for America'—a 50-state initiative to train workers and small businesses in AI fundamentals. This wasn't a pilot. It wasn't a charitable sideline. It was a strategic play—a public signal that workforce development, as we know, it is being rewritten. In The College Devaluation Crisis, I explored how companies—including Google—were already bypassing traditional education to build their own talent pipelines. With this expansion, Google has doubled down. It's not just participating in workforce development—it's leading it. The College Devaluation Crisis makes the case that edtech companies are quickly developing ... More alternative solutions to higher education for preparing the global workforce for competitive advantage. From Layoff to Liftoff: How One Worker Could Ride Google's AI Wave Shauna is 42. She managed a retail store in Akron until the pandemic—and automation—took both her job and her confidence. No degree. No backup plan. She's smart, determined, and stuck. Now imagine she finds AI Works for America through her local library. Free training. Job-ready skills. Coaching that doesn't make her feel behind. She may not know it yet, but Google just gave her something most systems haven't: a real shot. From Google's perspective, Shauna isn't just a learner—she's part of a future-proofed, AI-fluent workforce aligned with their ecosystem. She's a strategic asset. It's Not Altruism. It's Market Domination. Let's be clear—Google's not doing this out of goodwill alone. Sure, it's good for society. But it's also very good business. Train millions of workers in how to use your AI tools? That's not a PR campaign—that's platform strategy. By launching this initiative, Google: Google's $25 billion investment in U.S. data centers and clean energy is only half the equation. The ... More other half? Making sure humans are ready to use it. (Photo by) This is competitive advantage, scaled through workforce design. Google's $25 billion investment in U.S. data centers and clean energy is only half the equation. The other half? Making sure humans are ready to use it. The choice to launch in Pittsburgh wasn't random—it's a city with deep industrial roots and untapped talent, perfectly positioned to model how AI readiness can transform legacy economies. This Isn't Google's First Move—It's Just the Biggest One Yet In The College Devaluation Crisis, I profiled Google's Career Certificates as a modular way to bypass traditional degrees: learn a skill, get credentialed, join a hiring consortium. Now operational at scale via AI Works for America, with added layers: One learner told me in the book: 'The certificate gave me the confidence boost I needed. I started getting job offers immediately.' That feedback loop—speed, skill, placement—is now being deployed Talk. Pipelines Deliver. Higher education loves to say, 'We teach you how to think, not just how to do.' I say that--it's noble and true. But the market is voting—with its feet, and increasingly, with its screens. And while universities form curriculum review committees, pilot externships, and experiment with microcredentials, Google is quietly building a national talent pipeline—fast, focused, and at scale. It's not just that Google moves faster—it's that they're building a different system entirely. One optimized for working adults, underrepresented learners, and real outcomes. Google is using AI to not only transform industires, but to develop the very workforce that will ... More power them. Train Them. Hire Them. Own the Market. This isn't an experiment. It's business strategy. When Google trains people to use its AI products, that's customer acquisition. When it builds trust in underserved communities, that's brand lift. When it shapes the national conversation on AI readiness, that's market design. It's one thing to be part of the AI economy. It's another to design the workforce that powers Is the New Credential Economy—and Google's Writing the Rules In my book, I laid out a five-step model for modern workforce design: Enter → Learn → Assess → Credential → Connect. That's exactly what Google is building. And the timing couldn't be more strategic: Google isn't just launching a workforce program—they're staking a claim in a rapidly expanding credential economy. By shaping what gets taught, how it's assessed, and who gets hired, they're building end-to-end control of a new labor pipeline. It's not just a learning program. It's a pipeline. And the fact that a tech company—not a university, not the government—is building it isn't just revolutionary—it's a power grab. It's good for business: Google gets a loyal, AI-literate workforce trained on its tools. But if this model scales, it won't just disrupt higher education—it will render large parts of it irrelevant. The Hand-Off We Didn't See Coming This isn't just about skills. It's about who owns the future of talent. Google didn't wait for higher ed to modernize. It built its own pipeline. And while traditional institutions debate, design, and delay, Google is credentialing workers at national scale—faster, cheaper, and more effectively. The question isn't whether companies should develop talent. The question is: Why did we ever think they wouldn't?
Gulf Business
16-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
New job rules in Oman: These roles now require a permit
Image credit: Getty Images The Ministry of Labour has introduced new regulations requiring mandatory professional certification for work permits in both the accounting and engineering sectors in Oman. The move is part of a broader initiative to standardise qualifications, enhance professional competency, and support the Sultanate's national workforce development goals, Read- Effective August 1, 2025, the ministry will no longer issue or renew work permits for individuals working Similarly, starting September 1, 2025, individuals employed or seeking employment in accounting, finance, and auditing positions must obtain a Professional Classification Certificate from the Sector Skills Unit for Accounting, Finance, and Auditing. This certificate will be a mandatory requirement for the issuance and renewal of work permits in the financial sector. The Ministry emphasised that no work permits will be issued or renewed after the respective deadlines without the required certificates. All employers and professionals are urged to initiate the necessary steps to comply with the new regulations ahead of time to avoid disruptions in employment status. The following roles in the accounting and finance sector will require professional certification: Accounts Technician Assistant External Auditor Assistant Internal Auditor Internal Auditor External Auditor Cost Accountant Credit Analyst Financial Analyst Accounts Manager Tax Manager Chief Financial Officer (CFO) External Audit Manager Internal Audit Manager Senior Internal Audit Manager Financial Controller Senior External Audit Manager Head of Internal Audit Department Chief Financial Officer (CFO) External Audit Partner Chief Audit Executive The ministry has made it clear that no exceptions will be made after the enforcement dates. These changes are expected to elevate the standards of professional practice and ensure that only qualified individuals are employed in key technical and financial roles across the Sultanate.
