**Preface** Please know that this is just one example of a conversation thread that we believe could be relevant to your audiences. If the notion of behavioral assessment as a tool for aligning people with academic and employment pathways intrigues you and you’d prefer a different slant, we are happy to work with you to refine/refocus the idea. We would also seek to bring in other partners as co-presenters who can illustrate their stories and outcomes… whom we invite to join the conversation will depend a little on your preferred focus/direction. Unacceptably high stop-out rates. Declining enrolment. Growing cynicism in the ROI of post-secondary education. Increasing accountability for higher completion rates and stronger employment outcomes… the pressures on the educational system are immense. Employers and jobseekers are equally dissatisfied with the current state.
Attacking the symptoms as we have done, has not improved outcomes. What if, in our quest to address the cracks in the system, we’ve overlooked the root of the issue?
We will present live case studies and projects drawn from different industries and stakeholders in the employment ecosystem, including employers, industry associations and educational institutions. These examples will illustrate how rethinking the fundamentals of how and where we connect with young people, how we package the message, and how we position the opportunity can lead to astonishing outcomes.
The common thread in those examples uncovers a paradox: The ‘fix’ for these gnarly systemic issues doesn’t lie in trying to address those issues directly; instead, it lies in shifting our focus to the individuals we serve and leaning into the leading indicators of strengths, aptitude and potential that fuel not only stronger outcomes for the individual, but also higher completion rates and better employment outcomes.
Taking an intensely person-centric approach creates a shared language, builds trust and engagement, surfaces surprising options for consideration, connects workforce development to economic development seamlessly, and has built thriving talent pipelines for employers where previously there was scarcity.
