Ask employers what they need.

According to a recent McKinsey survey, business leaders in Europe (64 percent) and the United States (59 percent), generally believe that the private sector “should take the lead in trying to close the looming skills gap”. In China, though, only a third of Chinese executives considered the private sector responsible for building workplace skills. Chinese companies do, of course, get involved. Huawei, for example, is making big investments in proprietary training programs and is working with universities to create courses that suit its rapidly shifting requirements. But this needs to be more widespread and systematic.

One public-private effort to expand and promote skills-based learning is the US National Coalition of Certification Centers, in which educators work with businesses to develop industry-specific programs and standards. It started with one company and one community college in 2007, and is now working with dozens, in fields as diverse as renewable energy, horticulture, construction trades, and torque technology. Students get a certificate to prove their competence and can “stack” their credentials as their expertise deepens.(https://www.daowen.com)

Another example worth watching comes from Germany, where the Federal Employment Agency is working with employers to develop a vocational-counseling program to support workers at every key decision point from secondary school to retirement.The program is targeting four million people, with a focus on at-risk students and workers. It uses a combination of face-toface consultations and online services, including a digital tool that guides participants onto an efficient skill development path.Data is tracked to identify small problems before they become big ones, and to ensure that course changes are made quickly.Small and midsize enterprises in the vital German Mittelstand often lack resources to invest in training, and these companies are especially interested.