Workforce Development and Credentials of Value Pathways
Advancing Opportunity Through Education and Career Readiness
The Pathways Research and Resource Center (PRRC) strengthens the connection between education and the workforce by advancing research, tools, and partnerships that help students earn credentials of value—credentials that lead directly to meaningful employment and economic mobility.
Equitable workforce development requires a synergy of research, expanded access, policy improvements, and support for colleges and educators.
Our priorities are:
- Expanding access to credentials of value that improve students’ career prospects and economic stability
- Creating applied research on stackable credentials, employer-college partnership models, and high-impact practices for adult learners and working students
- Supporting workforce-ready programs at community colleges
- Integrating K-12, college, and career pathways to strengthen transitions into the workforce
- Addressing state and federal workforce policy related to credentials of value and community college reform efforts
Life Sciences Career Pathways
The School of Education is leading a new project to expand Western Pennsylvania’s life sciences workforce by developing community-oriented job training programs for local workers.
New skills, credentials, and career pathways are needed to train the tens of thousands of workers who will soon join this emerging industry in Western Pennsylvania.
The project will focus on non-degree, non-credit programs to connect students with for-credit courses, hybrid and online experiences, certificates, and stackable credentials. These certificates and credentials will be aligned with the skills needed by industry.
Key highlights
- Funded by the Richard King Mellon Foundation
- Will bring together multiple University of Pittsburgh entities, K-12 schools, community colleges, nonprofit organizations, and industry partners
- Prioritizes potential workers from Greater Hazelwood, Homewood, and the Hill District—as these neighborhoods are often excluded from economic advancement
REACH Collaborative
The REACH Collaborative (Racial Equity for Adult Credentials in Higher Ed) is focused on creating pathways designed for Black, Hispanic and Latino, and Native American adults to earn quality credentials that lead to a degree.
This project was supported by the Lumina Foundation and was completed through the School of Education and other partner agencies.
Project Highlights
- Offers a framework to guide community colleges in developing pathways that embrace the unique experiences and needs of adult students of color
- Involves partner institutions in five states: California, Colorado, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia
- Serves a group of REACH Deeper Colleges, a cohort of 10 institutions chosen to receive targeted support in prioritizing implementation of culturally sustaining practices
