Introduction
The ASU+GSV Summit and the Big AI Show recently convened in San Diego, California, providing a crucial platform to explore the evolving landscape of education, skills, and workforce development. As an attendee, I had the opportunity to participate in a wide array of panels and discussions, gleaning valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing stakeholders in the upskilling ecosystem. Three core themes emerged with notable prominence: addressing risk, the critical importance of articulating “why,” and the ongoing quest to determine return on investment.
Addressing Risk: A Paramount Concern
The pervasive sense of uncertainty in the current environment has elevated risk mitigation to a central priority for all stakeholders within the upskilling ecosystem.
- Educational institutions grapple with the risk of declining revenues due to decreased enrollment in traditional degrees and the influx of non-degree credentials.
- Funders navigate the risk of insufficient innovation and boldness in projects aimed at achieving scaled impact. A panel on philanthropic innovation emphasized the dual importance of execution risk and evidence risk in project design.
- Employers face the acute risk of talent shortages, hindering their ability to achieve critical business objectives. Lack of time, whether for hiring or upskilling existing employees, was another risk highlighted by employers as they work to stay competitive.
- Community-based organizations and edtech providers confront the risk of developing solutions that fail to align with the specific needs of employers and learners.
Successfully navigating these multifaceted risks through collaborative strategies is essential for building a thriving skills-based ecosystem.
The Power of “Why”: Clarity of Purpose
A recurring emphasis was placed on the importance of stakeholders across the skills and career mobility spectrum developing a clear understanding of their core purpose and effectively communicating it to others. Defining and articulating the “why” behind every problem and proposed solution is crucial for fostering relevance and alignment among all actors in the ecosystem.
Return on Investment: The Elusive Metric
Determining return on investment (ROI) for both employers and learners remains a significant topic of discussion. While the importance of ROI is clear, the optimal methodologies for its calculation continue to be debated, with varying approaches resonating with different audiences. One panel discussion on the future of learning explored the potential of shifting from measuring education to measuring learning, advocating for an input-focused versus an output-focused approach to ROI.
Conclusion
The ASU+GSV Summit provided a valuable snapshot of the current state of the skills ecosystem, highlighting both the challenges and the potential for collaboration. By prioritizing risk mitigation, emphasizing clarity of purpose, and pursuing more effective methods for determining ROI, stakeholders can work collectively to build a future where all learning is valued, individuals can effectively navigate their career paths, and businesses can achieve sustainable growth.
About the Author
Chelsea Miller is the associate director of UpSkill America, an initiative of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program.
Before joining the Institute in September 2024, Chelsea spent five years helping develop and lead the largest employer education benefit program in the US, Live Better U. Leading communications, policy, and portfolio strategy Chelsea made sure access to education was a reason Walmart made the Forbes Change the World list every year since 2018.
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UpSkill America supports employers and workforce organizations to expand and improve high-quality educational and career advancement opportunities for America’s front-line workers. We seek to create a movement of employers, civic organizations, workforce intermediaries, and policymakers working collaboratively to implement education, training, and development strategies that result in better jobs and opportunities for front-line workers, more competitive businesses, and stronger communities. Follow us at www.upskillamerica.org and
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