Talent Development
SGI proposes the creation of a comprehensive talent development system. A system that is:
- A shared responsibility across public and private sectors to meet short- and long-term needs of twin customers: individuals and businesses
- Would be accessible to everyone – it provides a variety of services that can be accessed at any point in the system, anytime/anywhere, childhood to retirement
- Aligned – all agencies are preparing people to succeed in high-growth industries
- Industry-driven – accomplishment measured by attainment of industry-certified competencies in basic and occupational skills
SGI can achieve this by forming a public-private, cross-agency leadership umbrella. This group would create an organized process for pathways to industry, identify core competencies for the region’s targeted industries, and conduct a career information education effort.
In doing this, the leadership umbrella–which would be comprised of individuals at the operational leadership level of all agencies and partners–would have to choose industries on which to focus first (e.g., TDL, wood products, and life sciences) –and then establish objectives and sector strategies to which all agencies will align.
Based on a stated, consensual goal among all operating entities to pursue sector strategies, this group can develop occupational competencies for specific industries, and identify those core competencies that cut across industries.
SGI Talent Development offers a forum to partners in education, workforce, and industry for ensuring that curricula align with actual, in-demand skills of the employers in SGI target sectors. In addition to learning basic work readiness throughout the K-12 and workforce systems, students in the upper levels of secondary and post-secondary are learning occupation and industry-specific skills.
Following this approach helps the Southeast Arkansas compete with a workforce that is future-looking with high-skills and aptitudes that match and drive future innovation and opportunities.