Advancing Innovation in Work and Learning  |  jan. 21, 2021

In 1900, Americans were lucky to live past their 50th birthday. Today average life expectancy in the U.S. has shot up to nearly 79 years. Some experts suggest the first person to live to be 150 already is walking among us.

What does this mean for our working lives? And how will a two- or four-year degree hold up over a potential 80- or 100-year career? 

Michelle Weise confronts these questions in a recent episode of Strada’s “Lessons Earned” podcast. “Long Life Learning,” her new book published in conjunction with Strada, lays out a vision for a radically updated education-career system prepared to support longer working lives awash with technological and economic disruption. 

Here’s what learners will need from a system designed for them:

• A navigable system where learners can evaluate where they are and plan a path forward.
• Supports to help them balance the complexities of life, including help with child care and transportation.
• Targeted education that leads to a job, with periodic on- and off-ramps to programs that respond to hyperlocal needs and deliver the right skills at the right time.
• Transparent and fair hiring practices that operate in the common language of skills and measure overlooked competencies. 
• The ability to earn while learning. None of this works unless individuals can continuously go back to school to retrain while still putting food on the table.

AROUND THE NETWORK

News and updates from Strada and its affiliates.

WHAT'S AHEAD FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES  Strada Center for Education Consumer Insights researchers and expert guest panelists will present the latest data in a Public Viewpoint webinar, “The Road Ahead for Community Colleges — Examining Enrollment, Completion, Purpose, and Value," from 2 to 3 p.m. EST Wednesday.

NEW LEADER FOR STRADA IMPACT  University of Utah President Ruth V. Watkins will join Strada Education Network in April as president of Strada Impact, where she will lead our national research, philanthropy, policy, and thought leadership efforts to drive change in the education-workforce system.

INSIGHTS FROM INNOVATORS  Join Strada Institute leaders and other presenters for "Accelerating Change: How Listening to Adult Learners Can Supercharge Your Efforts To Achieve More Equitable outcomes," a CAEL-sponsored webinar from 2 to 3 p.m. EST today. This session is intended for those looking for insights into how to infuse their own work with innovative approaches to serving adult learners.

WHY WE NEED BRIDGE BUILDERS  The gap between the skills employers need and the skills workers have is wide, but as Strada’s Ben Wildavsky points out on Working Nation’s “Work in Progress” podcast, many programs are at work to create solutions that bring them together.

FREE EBOOK FROM EMSI  How can higher education adopt the skill-based lexicon of the labor market to create relevant, in-demand programs? Skills Required shows educators how to leverage skills data to better align what they teach with what employers are looking for.

Lessons Earned

In our podcast, we explore bold ideas to help Americans navigate between learning and earning throughout their lives.

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About Strada

Our mission is to improve lives by forging clearer and more purposeful pathways between education and employment.

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On Purpose is presented by Strada Education Network. Contact the newsletter editor at editor@stradaeducation.org.