President’s Column: Working Together to Prepare Students for the Future Workforce
By Dr. Allen Burgad, VCSU Interim President
One of our main priorities at Valley City State University is preparing students for success beyond graduation. This includes providing a strong academic foundation, along with the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to succeed in their future careers.
To support this work, VCSU has established a Business & Industry Advisory Council made up of business and industry leaders from across our region, along with VCSU faculty, staff, and administrative leaders. The purpose of the Council is to strengthen our partnerships with regional employers and ensure our programs and student experiences continue to align with workforce needs.
One of our first accomplishments was identifying seven essential Career Readiness Competencies that employers believe are important for future career success. These include:
- Communication
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
- Teamwork
- Adaptability
- Technology
- Professionalism
- Self-Development
We have taken this work a step further by developing a common framework that will help students, faculty, and employers assess student growth through internships, practicum experiences, and other learning opportunities. This will provide students with a better understanding of the skills that employers value and opportunities to continue developing these skills throughout their college experience.
Another priority is to take a closer look at how we can expand experiential learning opportunities for our students. We want to strengthen internships, real-world learning, and other meaningful work experiences that let students apply what they learn in the classroom. These opportunities help students gain valuable experience, build professional relationships, and explore future career opportunities. They also provide our regional employers with opportunities to connect with students who may become future employees.
I appreciate the commitment of our business and industry partners, as well as the VCSU faculty, staff, and administrators who serve on this Council. Their willingness to work together is another example of the strong partnerships we have throughout our region. Our goal is to ensure VCSU graduates leave with the knowledge, skills, experiences, and confidence to be successful in their careers while making important contributions to the communities they serve.