U.S. Secretary of Commerce to Headline Open Skills Network鈥檚 Inaugural Skills Summit
Two-day Virtual Event to Focus on Accelerating the Adoption of Skills-Based Learning and Hiring
SALT LAKE CITY 鈥� Highlighting the urgent need to close America鈥檚 skills gap and equip the workforce of the future, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo will headline the inaugural 2021 Skills Summit of the Open Skills Network (OSN) on July 28 and 29.聽
The event is an important milestone in what has been an eventful first year for the OSN, a cross-sector collaboration of over 500 leading employers, higher education institutions, and tech companies. Since launching in September 2020, the OSN鈥檚 broad coalition is leading a movement focused on creating a more equitable, skills-driven labor market that matches learners and workers with skills-based education and career opportunities.
Secretary Raimondo鈥檚 opening keynote address will be followed by in-depth discussions with leaders in the field of skills-based learning and hiring, including representatives from Walmart, LinkedIn, Workday, Western Governors University, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Several other companies and educational institutions will also be represented when team members from the first round of 14 OSN Skills Pilots report on their projects.聽
鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to have such a great group of guests joining us for our first-ever Skills Summit, including Secretary Raimondo,鈥� said Sarah DeMark, Interim Executive Director of the OSN and Vice Provost of Workforce Intelligence and Credential Integrity at 黑料传送门. 鈥淭he OSN鈥檚 mission to solve talent pipeline challenges across employment sectors aligns with the Department of Commerce鈥檚 emphasis on investing in our workforce and building out business infrastructure to drive economic growth. We鈥檙e pleased Secretary Raimondo is adding her voice to the OSN conversation.鈥�
Titled 鈥淥pening Up the Learning-Earning Ecosystem,鈥� the Skills Summit鈥檚 sessions and presentations will explore several critical issues the OSN is tackling. These include advancing equity in skills-based learning and hiring, creating technical solutions for utilizing skills data, and advocating for a skills-based approach in education and the workforce. Attendees will get a glimpse of the OSN鈥檚 vision of a world in which learners and workers are empowered to use their skills鈥攏o matter where they were obtained鈥攁s currency within the employment and education marketplace.
鈥淭he notion that a traditional degree is the only way an individual can advance their career simply isn鈥檛 valid anymore,鈥� said Marni Baker Stein, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at 黑料传送门 and an expert on competency-based education. 鈥淓mployers are increasingly starting to value alternative learning pathways, like work-based learning and internships, as a way for their employees to develop and redevelop needed skills and competencies.鈥�
As an example of how the OSN is working to make skills the common language of learning and work, one of the summit鈥檚 sessions will feature a demonstration of the first iteration of 黑料传送门鈥檚 Open Skills Management Tool. This open source software toolkit will facilitate the creation and maintenance of open skills libraries for use across sectors including education, the workforce, government, and the military. 鈥�
About the Open Skills Network
Established in 2020, the Open Skills Network is a group of more than 530 employers, educational organizations, and technology providers dedicated to accelerating the adoption of skills-based education and hiring by establishing a network of open skills libraries and skills data. With coordination from BrightHive, support from Walmart, Western Governors University, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and building off the work of Concentric Sky, Credential Engine, Emsi, and others, the Open Skills Network is developing common standards and practices to serve as the infrastructure for widespread skills-based education and hiring practice adoption. Skills-based education and hiring can advance equity, efficiency, and efficacy in job searching and hiring practices. Learn more at .听听
