State Sector Convening Project
Sector strategies are a model used by states to align education with workforce and economic development needs, creating better outcomes for businesses, workers, and communities. Sector partnerships, led by industry leaders, serve as vehicles to develop and implement industry-driven solutions related to talent, infrastructure, innovation, and other competiveness needs. Sector partnerships result in concrete and immediate actions to strengthen industry competitiveness, improve workforce and education outcomes. In the process, they transform how public and private partners interact with one another, and mobilize business leaders to be champions who lead in the building of stronger education and workforce systems, thereby promoting economic vitality in their communities.
In 2015-17, Hawaii convened state sector partnerships in industries such as banking/finance, healthcare, agriculture, food manufacturing, design/construction engineering, information technology. This coming year, hospitality partnership will be assembled. As relationships between business and education mature and develop, specific actions are taken to address industry needs.