Nevada has long been a state with a diverse population. However, in the wake of the recent economic storm front that struck the Silver State from the pandemic, demands are again being made on Nevada to diversify its economy as well.
To address the challenges ahead, State Senator Pat Spearman (D-North Las Vegas) introduced SB110, which passed the legislature and created an Emerging Technologies Task Force. The task force’s only mandate would be to attract new technology-oriented companies to Nevada. Under this legislation, “emerging technologies” include industries such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and blockchain.
States compete for technology companies
As states continue to compete to attract businesses in the fast-growing technology sector, Nevada must provide a hospitable business environment and well-trained workforce to meet the demands of the IT sector.
The new task force will offer strategies to attract emerging technology companies, recommend ways to reduce the barriers to opening these new facilities, and help develop leading practices and standards for these emerging companies. In particular, the Task Force will also make recommendations for workforce development tailored to the workforce needs of such companies. Recognizing the recent impact of economic disasters – such as the COVID-19 pandemic – the Task Force will also prioritize accelerated training and employment for those negatively affected.
The group will consist of six people, including the director of the Department of Business and Industry. The director is also empowered to appoint as many additional members as it deems necessary.
The crucial role of post-secondary education
Post-secondary education institutions would undoubtedly play an important role in providing the necessary education to Nevadans seeking future employment in these emerging technology companies. As shown dramatically last year, online education, including at online universities such as Western Governors University (WGU), can continue to play an emerging and critical role in the upskilling, retraining and development of the local workforce.
The WGU offers many courses and study programs in popular professional fields, including information technology, teaching, business and health & care. The WGU also goes beyond conventions to identify, develop and implement programs, systems and technologies that pave the way to more opportunities for all. The WGU is unique in the country in that it pursues a competency-based educational approach that has been proven to help students accelerate their studies and get into working life more quickly.
Additionally, in today’s educational landscape, students can take several avenues for creating their resume, including micro-recognition, a future certificate program that the WGU intends to introduce.
Micro-credentials are certifications that verify, validate and certify that very specific competencies have been achieved. Micro-certificates are sequences of achievements that are usually geared towards the needs of the employer and / or the industry and can be followed in a separate format or can be subsumed into a larger WGU certificate, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree . Once set up, micro-certificates help students master specialized subjects quickly and efficiently and improve their CV with new skills to accelerate or advance their careers.
And according to the Center for Online Education, it is estimated that more than a third of university students will study online even if the pandemic is history. Another third of college students are expected to combine online and face-to-face study. Quality online education, including engineering and STEM subjects, will be critical to training, upgrading, or retraining residents of Nevada to perform challenging technology jobs.
Proposed support for new technologies
The task force will also seek to integrate blockchain technology with all levels of government to help promote new technologies. Blockchain technology is essentially a system of recording information that makes it impossible to hack.
Although it is relatively new, governments around the world are fascinated by its transparency, which allows the public to see and review sensitive data. In addition, if used correctly, blockchain solutions could reduce redundancy, streamline processes, reduce audit work, increase security and ensure data integrity.
The issue of human resource development has grown significantly in recent years as cities and states across the country have sought to ensure that their workforce is adequately prepared for the demands of emerging technologies of the 21st century.
In her book Hire Purpose, Deanna Mulligan, CEO of Guardian Insurance, stated that AI (artificial intelligence) could eventually become more proficient than human professionals with certain work tasks. Companies like AT&T and Google are already preparing their employees for the widespread use of AI in their business practices. These and other companies offer in-house training programs for employees to update their technology skills.
Diversifying Nevada’s economy is (still) key
Well over 400,000 workers are employed in the casino industry in Nevada. When an unforeseen disaster like the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts this sector, the lack of diversity in the workforce makes the Silver State one of the hardest hit countries nationwide.
The new task force plans to promote the training of workers in new technologies that would ultimately lead to a better educated job market – and a Nevada economy with jobs less dependent on a single industry: gaming. The result will be a diversified economy and a better educated workforce to meet the labor needs of the emerging technology sector.
Rick Benbow is the Regional Vice President of Western Governors University Nevada.
source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/the-importance-of-the-emerging-technologies-task-force/
No comments:
Post a Comment