STEM literate citizens are needed to fill the STEM jobs within the United States and to be active members of society economically, personally, and democratically. One way to develop STEM literate citizens is by implementing a STEM Learning Ecosystem (SLE). SLEs are an initiative founded in 2015 that bring together cross-sector partners to…

The cultivation of solid leadership abilities and the implementation of effective strategies are of utmost importance in facilitating collaboration among community college institutions and businesses, fostering agility and creativity, promoting diverse thinking, facilitating effective pedagogical practices, supporting professional development, and…

The purpose of this case study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of the implementation process of a career technical education program and business partnerships. Data collected included nine participants' experiences during the implementation process and current experiences with two local business partnerships. This in-depth study…

This study aimed to provide a quantitative analysis of industry's perception of the effectiveness of community colleges, specifically from industries in the advanced manufacturing sector, within the state of Michigan. This study investigated interactions, awareness, and perception of effectiveness by industry leaders with community college CTE…

Purpose: The purpose of this journal-ready dissertation was to determine the extent to which differences existed in the attainment of Texas Education Agency approved industry-based certifications of Texas high school graduates by their ethnicity/race, gender, and economic status. In the first study, the degree to which the attainment of Texas…

This qualitative case study explored stakeholders' perceptions in Baxter County, Arkansas, regarding workforce development initiatives at Mountain Home High School Career Academies and Arkansas State University-Mountain Home. The purpose was to understand if these initiatives met local employers' needs and contributed to creating a skilled and…

International student recruitment has become a major priority for universities, especially in the United States. With an uptick in international student enrollment expected, higher education institutions are having to compete for international students on a global scale. The current study explores the influence of education agents on Indian…

The purpose of this interpretive case study was to investigate how several community colleges work with local industry partners to create market alignment and uncover the social outcomes within their communities. Most studies within labor market alignment focus on the economic outcomes, but this study sought to review the social outcomes. This…

The purpose of this qualitative study is to enhance understanding of how work-based learning can improve the soft skills of students at a technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institution in Jamaica. The drive for this research stemmed from the need to address the gap between academic preparation and workplace expectations to…

This capstone will discuss the research and development of a document intended for university stakeholders, defined as community partners. A review of academic literature has shown that experiential learning, in the form of internships, can have a positive impact on student learning and job attainment beyond graduation. The promotion of…

A significant amount of money is spent on professionalizing the workforce. At the same time, there is limited research on the effectiveness of academic-to-industry corporate partnerships as an innovative solution for meeting workforce development objectives. This exploratory study evaluates an existing University of South Florida industry…

Industry certification and apprenticeship programs are vital in closing the labor shortage gap while improving graduation rates nationwide. New Mexico has trailed behind the rest of the nation in rebalancing the emphasis on skilled trades, particularly in rural schools. This phenomenological study interviewed ten Career and Technical Education…

Alabama's economy is currently trending towards a crisis due to the lack of skilled talent to fill the technical positions in the growing labor market. It is no secret that Career and Technical Education (CTE) participants are linked to many positive educational and labor market outcomes. However, little information is available about the…

Educational technology (EdTech) interoperability throughout cyberspace provides the financial opportunity for collecting and selling of student privacy information. The research problem addressed throughout this study is the public school district leaders' (SDLs) understanding of EdTech cyber security practices and policies (EdTechCSPP). Little is…

There is a widening gap between traditional higher education and the needs of the industry workforce. Higher education has lately been criticized for having too few voices playing a role in most curricula development, with the voices being used consisting largely of career academics (Nature Editorial, 2023). Both industry and academia have found a…