How To Maintain & Enhance Apprenticeship Programs For Students, Educators & Employers

Description  Challenge - The future of apprenticeship programs Apprenticeships have long been a recognized way to provide students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in their careers after college. The pandemic, however, has created challenges for programs that are completed on site. As a result, many educators and employers are uncertain how to proceed in a virtual or at least in a hybrid environment. Key Takeaway In this webinar, we will provide the evidence-based best practices that have emerged regarding the value of apprenticeship programs from our collective experience with COVID-19. In addition, this interactive session will discuss the future of apprenticeships and how we can take what we have learned from our struggles with the pandemic to build a better experiential learning model for higher education; i.e., one that will support the needs of both students and employers as we continue to move forward.  Overview “Apprenticeships, which combine on-the-job and classroom training over several years, can help people get a foot in the door to the labor market while also increasing access to higher education. They also help meet employers’ needs for a workforce with applied, technical, and problem-solving skills. Many peer countries are farther along in pursuing such education reform that promotes ongoing learning for a fast-paced 21st century economy.” - Annelies Goger & Chenoah Sinclair Two out of three workers who became unemployed during the pandemic are reconsidering their vocational choices. The reality is that job losses were more than twice as great for those in low-income jobs as for middle-income positions, and low-wage workers were shaken by the speed at which their jobs became disposable. The implications for higher education are clear. Apprenticeship programs can bridge the gap between those looking for employment opportunities and employers who desperately need skilled workers. This interactive webinar will show how college and university apprenticeship programs can assist companies and other organizations that need workers. Additionally, we will show how apprenticeship programs can survive and thrive in the ‘new normal.’ The benefits for those looking for a new job – or a whole new career – will also be emphasized. Objectives Discuss how higher education (and especially experiential learning) has evolved in response to COVID-19. Explore the impact COVID-19 has had – and continues to have - on apprenticeship programs. Identify what has worked and what has not, as we have struggled to keep apprenticeship programs relevant since the arrival of the pandemic. Distill a coherent set of evidence-based best practices that have emerged regarding moving apprenticeship programs to a virtual and/or hybrid format. Discover strategies for identifying, acquiring and enhancing the resources needed to support apprenticeship programs both during and post-pandemic. Consider case studies from the real world that demonstrate how apprenticeship programs can be successful despite the challenges precipitated by the pandemic. Who Should Attend Apprenticeship & Internship Coordinators Placement Services Professionals Career Services & Academic Advising Professionals Faculty & Administrators Who Oversee Apprenticeship Programs Academic Administrators & Clinical Coordinators Practicum Coordinators Virtual Learning Specialists Any educator interested in learning more about apprenticeship programs