CEMETS iLab Indiana, a coalition of nearly 200 Hoosier leaders established in December 2023, today released a plan for an innovative, new way for Hoosiers to access education and training that will prepare them for in-demand careers and help solve the state’s mounting workforce shortages. The new statewide pathway, which combines classroom instruction with paid, on-the-job experience, will provide new opportunities to tens of thousands of Hoosier students, including those who otherwise may not have opted to attend college or pursue training after high school. The pathway will also enable students to seamlessly transfer to the college pathway if desired.
The iLab’s members – comprised of leaders from a variety of sectors including business, K-12 education, higher education, and government – joined forces to design a new statewide professional education and training pathway that’s rooted in a youth apprenticeship experience starting in high school and serves as a complement to the existing high school-to-college pathway.
“The iLab’s strategic plan is the culmination of eight years of research and learning,” said Claire Fiddian-Green, co-chair of CEMETS iLab Indiana and president & CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, which has awarded more than $12 million in funding to support the creation of a youth apprenticeship system in Indiana. “Hoosiers need more pathways to well-paying jobs, and we are excited to move forward with this broad and engaged coalition on clear next steps for building and scaling a system that could welcome students as soon as the 2025-2026 school year.”
The need for this new way to access professional education and training is clear. By 2031, 72% of U.S. jobs will require education beyond high school, but only 39% of Indiana adults 25 or older have an associate degree or higher. In 2022, only 53% of Indiana high school graduates enrolled in college. Of those who go to college, only 47% graduate on time, and only 67% graduate within six years. We must build a new approach to prepare students for careers that can complement the existing college route.
One focus of the coalition’s work was to identify how the key stakeholders – employers, K-12 educators, college and university representatives, and non-profit intermediaries – could collaborate to build a pathway that offers graduates a degree recognizing both their academic and workplace learning.
“This new pathway is a win-win for students and employers. For employers, the pathway will bring in eager, motivated Hoosiers who can grow and innovate within our industries,” said David Becker, co-chair of CEMETS iLab Indiana and chairman and CEO of First Internet Bank. “For students, it’s an opportunity to gain hands-on experience, build valuable skills, and start on their career path.”
The plan builds on the coalition’s deep exploration of Switzerland’s youth apprenticeship system and the learnings from existing youth apprenticeship pilot programs throughout Indiana, which have already engaged more than 100 employers, 40 schools, and 450 students. While these pilot programs created valuable work-based learning experiences for students, they also identified several challenges, such as lack of standardized curriculum, inflexible high school schedules, and no credential recognizing work-based learning. The iLab plan outlines the critical next steps for creating a system that overcomes these challenges.
“Building from the existing pilot programs, we believe we have landed on a system that will move us toward a better future for our young people, employers, and the economy,” said Brad Rhorer, president & CEO of Ascend Indiana, which has provided project management for iLab committees, offered opportunities for industry leaders to see apprenticeships in action, and coordinated convenings of iLab stakeholders. “This is a critical step to ensure that every Hoosier student – no matter where they live – has options and flexibility in how they work toward their career goals.”
iLab members are already hard at work tackling the four priorities outlined in the strategic plan:
- Establish industry “talent associations” to convene employers, identify priority occupations, and create professional pathway programs starting in high school;
- Create structured mechanisms enabling learners to move up and/or across the college and professional pathways;
- Design a labor market-aligned career advising system starting in middle school that has the capacity to serve all students in Indiana; and
- Define clear roles and responsibilities for all stakeholders, including employers, educators, nonprofit, and government representatives.
The first talent associations will be established within four industries facing projected talent shortfalls that also have the strong support of industry executives: banking, healthcare, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing. If the plan is implemented as expected, the new pathway will welcome students in at least one occupation starting with the 2025-2026 school year.
“This plan is designed to ensure that our education and training system meets the needs of students, employers, and the state, and is a unique opportunity to invest in homegrown Hoosier talent,” said Matt Mindrum, president and CEO of the Indy Chamber. “This innovative new approach will position Indiana as a leader in solving the complex, nationwide challenges of workforce development and education reform.”
Anyone interested in learning more can visit ilabindianastrategicplan.org for more details and to view the full strategic plan.
