WorkforceChicago2.0 Develops Higher Education–Business Leaders Forum

On April 26, 2006, WorkforceChicago2.0 launched the Higher Education–Business Leaders Forum. Leaders from colleges and universities, business and industry, and civic initiatives were invited to this first-ever event at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

From CAEL’s research and nationally-implemented programs, two important conclusions emerged:

• The Chicago region needs greater collaboration between higher education institutions and business to meet the human resource needs of the area.
• Public policies in Illinois should be more supportive of adult learning and workforce development—both from the perspective of employers and from the perspective of higher education.

The goals of the Higher Education-Business Leaders Forum were:

• To forge effective and innovative collaborations between business and higher education, and
• To foster dialogue about common issues in employee learning and development, workforce development, and economic development.

Regional university presidents and chancellors, corporate CEO’s and executives, and CAEL experts in learner services and workforce development guided the development of this forum.