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Occupational Training

Refugees
commentary
Jobs Can Improve the Lives of Syrian Refugees and Their Host Communities—and Support Stability in the Middle East
Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson, Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_
Mar 11, 2019
Foreign Policy
Host governments, international development agencies, and donor countries like the United States could take several steps to improve Syrian refugee employment. This would increase self-reliance among Syrian refugees and ease pressures on host communities.
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Refugees
commentary
As Refugees, Syrian Women Find Liberation in Working
Louay Constant, Shanthi Nataraj @ShanthiNataraj, Fadia Afashe
Feb 19, 2019
United Press International
Syrian refugee women in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan want opportunities to work. But there are multiple barriers and challenges that limit them. Improving the chances of safe and dignified work opportunities for Syrian women in these countries could yield broad positive social benefits for both the refugee and host communities.
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Refugees
commentary
Syrian Skills: A Missed Opportunity
Shanthi Nataraj @ShanthiNataraj, Louay Constant
Feb 14, 2019
RealClearWorld
Syrian refugees in Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon are finding ways to get by. But many refugees are not able to fully use their skills, and that is a lost opportunity both for the Syrians and the host countries.
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Occupational Training
essay
Appalachia Partnership Helps Both Workers and Employers in a Changing Market
Aug 30, 2018
An innovative program in Appalachia is realigning the skills of the workforce with the needs of employers, getting people back on the job and providing a 21st-century model of workforce development.
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Postsecondary Education
commentary
Community Colleges Can Be 'First Responders' in Retraining Displaced Workers
Lindsay Daugherty
Feb 16, 2017
The Hill
Many of the occupations with the most opportunities require two-year degrees or certificates. Community colleges play a key role in training students for these jobs and offer a supportive environment for displaced and dissatisfied workers.
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Employment and Unemployment
commentary
Carrier Deal Does Not Carry the Day for American Workers
Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_, Lynn A. Karoly
Dec 21, 2016
United Press International
Despite the good intentions, pressuring companies like Carrier to keep jobs in the U.S. addresses only the smaller part of the problem, globalization, not the larger one, technological change. A long term solution would be to upgrade the education and training system so that students graduate with skills for life-long learning.
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Employment and Unemployment
commentary
America's Shifting Labor Market in a Technology-Driven World
Daniel M. Gerstein @Daniel_Gerstein
Nov 25, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
Making America competitive in a transitioning market will require examining future labor market requirements. Workforce development programs that target building labor capacity for a new economy will be essential.
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Technical Professions
commentary
Back to Work: Middle-Skill Jobs in the STEM Economy
Gabriella C. Gonzalez @GabCGonzalez, Robert Bozick
Aug 24, 2016
The RAND Blog
The STEM economy will grow by 17 percent through 2018, with expected job vacancies totaling 2.4 million. Middle-skill STEM jobs—such as computer support specialists, web developers, and engineering technicians—are in the highest demand.
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Employment and Unemployment
commentary
Young Workers Without College Degrees Face Uncomfortable Truths
Diana Gehlhaus Carew
Jun 23, 2016
The Hill
Young Americans without a college education suffer from high unemployment, low earnings, and delayed adulthood with a limited ability to buy a home. To help them, policymakers need to remind themselves that workforce training and labor policy must focus on the technology-driven jobs of tomorrow.
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Cybersecurity
commentary
How You Can Be Cybersecurity's Strongest Asset
Sherry Ryan, Lillian Ablon
Feb 18, 2016
The Huffington Post
Technology is thoroughly embedded within the average person's life but security is not emphasized to the general user. Teaching the importance of security early on and continually bringing awareness to the public could help temper technology-based attacks.
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Vocational Education
commentary
Building a Sound Technical and Vocational Education and Training System
Louay Constant, Cathy Stasz, Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson, Georges Vernez
Dec 31, 2014
EduTech Magazine
Technical and vocational education and training in India has expanded significantly over the past two decades. But quality and relevance remain significant issues. What may be learned from other countries' experiences?
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Economic Development
commentary
Change Choices, Not Conversation
Melissa Flournoy
Aug 24, 2008
Monroe (LA) News Star
Too often we talk only about the ongoing challenges facing education, health care, transportation and economic development across the Gulf South — Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.... We need to determine new ways to work together across state lines to focus on solutions that will benefit the entire region, writes Melissa Flournoy.
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