Higher Education & Workforce Summit

PWDA invites proposals for the Higher Education & Workforce Summit, a leadership-level convening designed to strengthen regional alignment between workforce boards, higher education institutions, employers, and talent system partners.

This Summit brings together workforce board executives, higher education leaders, adult and postsecondary CTE professionals, employers, and HR/talent leaders to examine how regional talent systems can move beyond parallel efforts and toward coordinated, outcomes-driven strategy.

This is not an academic conference and not a compliance-focused event. Sessions should emphasize real-world experience, cross-sector collaboration, and practical insights that help leaders strengthen alignment across governance, funding, employer engagement, and accountability.

Day 1 Focus Areas

Shared Understanding & System Leadership

Day 1 focuses on building shared language, clarifying roles, and examining where alignment succeeds—or breaks down—across regional talent systems.

We are especially interested in proposals that address:

· The role of workforce boards in regional talent strategy

· Higher education’s evolving role in employer-aligned program design

· Employer expectations of education and workforce partners

· Governance and funding alignment across systems

· Where cross-sector collaboration fails—and how to fix it

· Data, accountability, and shared performance expectations

· Real examples of employer–education–board partnerships

Proposals should reflect multiple perspectives whenever possible. Joint presentations across sectors are strongly encouraged.



Day 2 Focus Areas

From Insight to Local Action

Day 2 centers on structured working sessions that help participants leave with tangible next steps they can take back to their organization or region.

We are seeking facilitators who can guide applied, interactive sessions that help leaders:

· Assess current alignment within their region or institution

· Identify structural barriers to collaboration

· Clarify governance roles and communication gaps

· Strengthen employer engagement strategies

· Develop realistic 60–90 day action steps

· Translate cross-sector insights into internal leadership conversations

Sessions should produce a practical takeaway, framework, template, or working tool participants can bring back to their teams.

This is working time—not lecture time.
Primary Presenter: (note - this presenter will be the primary point of contact for all PWDA communications; if selected to present, we will need names/contact information for additional presenters)

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* 1. Name

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* 2. Company / Organization

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* 3. Address

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* 4. What is your email address?

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* 5. Organization Type

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* 6. Workshop Theme (select one)

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* 7. If you chose Day 1 Focus Areas - Shared Understanding & System Leadership, please select a subject matter

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* 8. If you chose Day 2 Focus Areas - Shared Understanding & System Leadership, please select a subject matter

Who Should Submit

We welcome proposals from:

· Workforce board executives and system leaders

· Higher education administrators and workforce leaders

· Adult and postsecondary CTE leaders

· Employers and industry representatives

· HR and talent development professionals

· Workforce system partners

Cross-sector proposals are particularly encouraged.



Submission Guidance

Proposals should clearly describe:

· The challenge or opportunity being addressed

· The intended audience (Day 1 system dialogue or Day 2 working session)

· The practical value participants will gain

· The specific takeaways, tools, or insights attendees will leave with

PWDA values proposals grounded in real-world experience, honest reflection, and a willingness to explore both successes and challenges in aligning higher education, workforce development, and employer strategy.

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* 9. Title of your Workshop

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* 10. Description: Please describe your workshop in 75 words or less, as you wish it to appear in the program and other marketing materials. Please ensure information is complete, accurate and grammatically correct, and be as specific as possible about content so an attendee can determine the relevance of your section. PWDA reserves the right to edit descriptions for length and clarity.

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* 11. * Presentation Take-Aways: Briefly describe in what ways the workshop will allow attendees to apply the content to their professional responsibilities and daily activities.

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* 12. Format

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* 13. Have you presented this content before

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* 14. If selected, are you aware of and willing to abide by PWDA’s paid registration requirements?

If you have any questions regarding a workshop proposal, please contact info@pawork.org



Notification of selection will be given after July 6, 2026

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