Strengthening pathways from education to employment is crucial for students’ successful transition into meaningful jobs that support their ability to engage, contribute, and thrive. Recognizing this imperative, California Competes partnered with Los Angeles County community colleges and government partners to refine and foster a culture of career readiness as a collaborative responsibility and identify promising regional practices that integrate career readiness across students’ postsecondary experiences. Out of this collaborative effort emerged a shared objective among partners to establish, prioritize, and expand paid work-based learning opportunities for students.
In March, a panel discussion with higher education and workforce development partners from this work explored the importance of paid work experience for students, the strategies and challenges involved in setting up these opportunities, and the actionable steps to leverage industry partnerships and county resources for maximum impact. Watch the recording here.
