The shift toward an innovation-based, technology-enabled economy has rapidly changed the skills and credentials needed by Texans in the workforce. While the state’s community colleges have the scale, infrastructure, and potential to address the skills challenges facing Texas employers and residents, they will need to adapt and develop increased agility in order to meet the urgent needs of today's changing economy. Stronger partnerships and engagement with employers and industry are essential for community colleges to fulfill their critical workforce mission. The types of credentials offered through higher education and the way institutions are organized and engage with employers and students can be re-tooled, re-envisioned to meet these needs head on—and the time to do it is now.

Dr. Harrison Keller, commissioner of higher education with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), visited the Partnership in early June to share his insights on our skills challenges during an UpSkill Works forum. He highlighted the urgency for innovating and focusing on higher education policy and its related outcomes to address the state's skills challenges, particularly for the workforce mission of our community colleges.

Keller discussed the THECB's new strategic plan for building a talent strong Texas, highlighting the strength and novelty of its market-driven approach. The plan raises the bar on the state's "60X30 Texas" plan to expand the target age group of Texas learners and workers and to place emphasis on attainment beyond traditional degrees to include “credentials of value” to employers and the labor market.

Keller urged employers and educators to help "clear regulatory brush" and support the innovation and agility necessary to ensure the state’s long-term competitiveness. By working together, we can commit to serving more Texans than ever before and educate more people to higher standards with credentials of value. “The thing that I’m most worried about—that we won’t work like we’re running out of time—because we are,” he said.

Read a recap of the conversation. Watch a recording of the full UpSkill Works forum.

United Way of Greater Houston and the Partnership’s UpSkill Houston initiative have convened the first cohort of career coaches from across the region to augment professional training within a peer learning context. Effective career coaching and guidance is a key pillar of UpSkill Houston’s long-term strategy.

The cohort evolved out of discussions among United Way of Greater Houston’s workforce coaching network and UpSkill Houston leaders around how to strengthen the capacity and skills of the region’s career coaches to help empower area residents and students to successfully navigate a rapidly changing labor market. The group will work through training using the Skilling America learning platform and meant to help Greater Houston’s coaches explore new, innovative ways to work with and support clients to obtain better jobs and careers and improve their economic mobility.

The Greater Houston Apprentice Network is helping employers across the region expand the apprenticeship model to attract and grow skilled talent into an increasingly diverse spectrum of industries and roles.

The organization, founded in 2021 by Accenture and Aon with support from the Partnership, recently held an apprenticeship panel and networking event for members, partners, apprentices, and guests to learn about different apprenticeship models and practices. Featured speakers included apprentices and managers from UpSkill Houston partners Accenture, Aon, and Dow.

Juliet Stipeche has begun service as the new director of human services for the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC).

Stipeche was tapped earlier this spring to lead HGAC's workforce, aging, and disabilities resource teams, and will also serve as the Gulf Coast Workforce Board's executive director. She brings to the role education and workforce experience through her work with Houston ISD, Rice University, and the City of Houston Mayor's Office. Stipeche replaces longtime director Mike Temple following his retirement in April.

See more from H-GAC.