Geological Society of America

T217 Preparing Our Workforce (POW): Increasing Students' Employability by Developing Practical Skills and Competencies (Posters)

Tuesday, 21 October 2014
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Exhibition Hall C

BUILDING THE WORKFORCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: RESOURCES FOR EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS

Paper number: T217-5
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Monica Bruckner Presenting Author
Carleton College, Northfield, MN
Karin B. Kirk
Bozeman, MT
David C. Gosselin
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
Cathryn Manduca
Carleton College, Northfield, MN
David Blockstein
National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington, DC
Timothy J. Bralower
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Abstract

In a rapidly changing world with finite natural resources, there is a demonstrated need for graduates to enter the workforce prepared with a variety of knowledge and skills from within their discipline, across allied disciplines, and those required of all professionals. Preparing students for the workforce requires attention to their specialized skills, as well as the ability to identify career pathways and land a job. To address this suite of related needs, a set of web pages designed for faculty and informed from participants at the 2013 InTeGrate workshop Geoscience and the 21st Century Workforce was created. The pages provide guidance on preparing undergraduate students for the workforce of a sustainable future. The pages include an overview of the geoscience workforce, including employment statistics and the workforce outlook; perspectives from employers in geoscience and related fields, including what skills and knowledge they are looking for in new hires; and suggestions for building students’ professional and interpersonal skill sets. The NAGT Traveling Workshop program will also aid in this endeavor by offering guidance on designing departmental curricula and programming related to preparing students for the workforce. Learn more from the InTeGrate website:

http://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/programs/workforce.html

Additionally, a student portal within the InTeGrate project, currently under development, aims to provide information and resources to help students better prepare for the workforce. The portal will include information about employment opportunities in the workforce for a sustainable future as well as advice and resources to help them build their resume with hands-on experience – in and out of the classroom - that strengthens both their hard and soft skills.

This presentation will showcase these workforce preparation resources and how they can be utilized to build students’ skills and competencies to be successful in the 21st century workforce.