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2008 UCEA Workforce
Development Forum 

2008 UCEA Workforce Development Forum

Addressing the Talent Gap —
Higher Education's Role in Sustaining a Competitive Workforce

January 9-11, 2008 -- Sandpearl Resort -- Clearwater Beach, Florida

Who Should Attend the UCEA Workforce Development Forum?

• Deans, faculty, and senior administrators at two year- and four-year
higher education institutions
• Directors of professional and continuing education units
• Corporate chief learning officers
• Workforce investment board officials
• Regional and state workforce development professionals
• Labor organization leaders

This year’s Forum focuses on the potential talent shortage that the United States could confront when thousands of educated baby boomers leave the work force in the next 10-20 years. Employers and policymakers worry that absent interventions to increase the skill levels of younger workers, there will not be the talent required to fill the jobs in the country’s knowledge-based economy. As a consequence, many employers are undertaking succession planning. They are assessing their talent needs, prioritizing retention, and offering tuition reimburse- ment in an effort to encourage employees to upgrade their knowledge and skills. Thus, the 2008 Forum will explore the following major themes:

• Talent Needs and Innovative Learning Solutions
• Strategic University-Employer Partnerships
• Application of Metrics to Learning
• Education and Training Programs to Sustain Regional Economic Development

UCEA’s 14th Annual Workforce Development Forum is for leaders from business, government, non-profit, eco- nomic development, and academic sectors interested in workforce and economic development. This Forum will explore the role that higher education plays in workforce and economic development, including the economics of workforce education and training, innovative workforce development strategies, corporate/higher education collaborations, and relevant public policy initiatives. The Forum takes into account the fact that employers and higher education institutions are creating learning programs for a wide range of skill-levels and occupations – from entry level to the executive suite.