Build solutions with industry, not just for industry.
Sector partnerships bring colleges, employers, workforce organizations, and economic-development partners together to solve shared workforce challenges and build stronger talent pipelines.
What the research shows: A U.S. Department of Labor evaluation of regional sector partnerships found participants had a 6-percentage-point higher employment rate in the fourth quarter after enrollment and $2,697 higher total earnings in the second year.
Partnerships are essential for rural postsecondary institutions in order to efficiently develop the resources needed for pathway development, skills research, curricula design, application of modern education and training models, and implementation of work-based learning activities. This section of the Toolkit offers RPI and TCU leadership a focused approach to leading or participating in Industry Sector Partnerships (ISP). The framework moves beyond the traditional Advisory Board model, centering inquiry and engagement on employer input in the context of skills and competencies, course scheduling, job placement for learners, data sharing and tracking, and opportunities to leverage resources with industry. The Industry Sector Partnership model brings “success after completion” to the traditional core goals of access and student success. Industry sector partnership models help RPIs build collaboratives and prepare for funding opportunities, aligning goals and capacity across education, workforce systems, and industry.
Tribal Colleges and Universities have a special opportunity to lead the Industry Sector Partnerships, bringing together Tribal government, Tribal enterprises, and regional employers to identify high demand pathways and opportunities for work-base learning.
Institutional Lead
Recommended institutional leads include:
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Workforce Development Offices
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VP of Advancement
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Institutional Research
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CTE Deans
Institutional Support Partners
Potential partners include:
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Student Services
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Marketing
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Advancement
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Finance Offices
Suggested Institutional Action
Every institution should be able to answer:
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Which industry sectors should we prioritize?
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Which employers and partners need to be at the table?
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What shared workforce challenge should the partnership address?
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What role should our institution play?
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How will the partnership sustain its work and measure progress?
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For TCUs: How should Tribal government, Tribal enterprises, and Native employers be represented?
Learning Outcome
Leadership, staff and faculty will gain an understanding of the principles of industry sector partnerships including the Next Gen Model of Industry Sector Partnerships out of Department of Labor and exposure to the Talent Pipeline Management model hosted by the U.S. Chamber.