WORKFORCE AND EDUCATION: DEVELOPING IMPROVED STRATEGIES FOR INDUSTRY-ACADEMIA PARTNERSHIPS TOWARD DEVELOPING A CAPABLE AND SUFFICIENT S&T LABOR POOL

Most economic analyses reflect increased activity in science and technology industries in the past decade; however, the forecast is for decreased hiring in some S&T fields, particularly in the near future for professional positions in the primary employment sector for geoscientists: the extractive oil and gas industries (BLS, 2001). Similarly, the surveys of S&T professional societies reflect decreased enrollment in geoscience degree programs and similar patterns in employment (AGI, 2002; AIP, 2002). Additionally, potential employees may face numerous workforce challenges in today's erratic market, including the need for better skills for hiring and for longevity once employed. Further, demographic workforce data shows that there are still limited numbers of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities seeking and retaining S&T jobs (CAWMSET, 2000).

Interaction between employers and college/university educators is critical to coordinate the appropriate preparation of students for the science and technology workforce and the integration of technological developments. The advances of S&T that are generated in industry must be transferred effectively to college and university classrooms, and faculty and student skill development must keep pace for appropriate workforce preparation to occur. Further, for industry to operate effectively in the global marketplace, the full and equitable participation of all qualified Americans seems a necessary requirement. Identification and eradication of barriers should be explored. And it would be useful to share models of exemplary training methods/programs and of successful collaborations that lead to workforce-ready graduates.

Exploring and perhaps improving the industry-academia connection in workforce and education may lead to developing and implementing more successful strategies for developing a capable and sufficient S&T labor pool. Lack of such interfaces may be a cause for the documented shortcomings in the knowledge and skills of recent S&T graduates with respect to industry needs. Improved communication is likely to result in increased employment success of the individuals (successful recruitment, increased workforce retention), and increased national/global competitiveness of the American S&T workforce.