Present and future generations of America’s technically skilled workforce convened this week. Where? At one of the most important events on the tech training and education calendar.
The SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.
What is our participation?
First of all, it’s an event we are especially passionate about. We’re proud to have been sponsors at the 2017 edition of the event, held in Louisville, Ky at the Kentucky Exposition Centre, from June 20-23.
So, as part of our sponsorship for the conference, we provided the digital signage for all the screens in, and around the venue. Over 16,000 students, teachers, education leaders, and representatives from 600 national corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions gathered, for what is the world’s largest showcase of skilled trades.
Quality technical education
Quality career and technical education will be the centerpiece of the conference. The highlight will undoubtedly be the annual SkillsUSA Championships with 100 hands-on skill and leadership competitions.
Unless you aren’t familiar with SkillsUSA, it’s a non-profit organization, which serves more than 335,000 students and instructors annually. This includes 19,500 instructors who join as professional members. Including alumni, SkillsUSA membership totals over 395,000.
In total, SkillsUSA has served more than 12.5 million annual members cumulatively since 1965. Its aim is to continuously improve the quality of America’s skilled workforce, through a structured program of citizenship, leadership, employability, technical and professional skills training.
White house briefing
Earlier this month the organization were at the White House briefing government officials. As part, that is, of a recent Workforce Development and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Listening Session. Most noteworthy, the June 1 event at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, provided an opportunity for White House staff and senior administration officials. That is, to hear directly from the leaders of career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) on their programming and what works within CTE. Including industry partnerships and employment pathways.
The event was featured on national morning show “Fox and Friends” on June 21. The spot featured Mike Rowe, proponent of the skilled trades. Rowe is working to highlight career and technical education as an alternative to the four-year degree.
Skills gap
“The skills gap is not only real, it’s a reflection of what we value”
said Rowe.
“To close the gap, we need to change the way the country feels about work. My foundation supports SkillsUSA, because it celebrates the kind of skills that are actually in demand. Through excellence and competition, SkillsUSA encourages real-world training, and in the process, lays the foundation for thousands of careers in the skilled trades. SkillsUSA works.”
Therefore, the idea of constant innovation is not just about technology. It seems like it’s more relevant than ever in the field of technical education. We, most of all, look forward to getting behind SkillsUSA in their future endeavours.
*You can follow all the news, videos, photos and highlights from the conference here.