News Article

FSW Dean Presents at National Conference

Nov 10, 2014

November 10, 2014 – FORT MYERS, FLA – Dr. John Meyer, Dean, Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) School of Business and Technology, recently presented “Workforce Now: Critical Employment Skills Gap Analysis” at the National Council for Workforce Education’s annual conference in Pittsburg, Pa.

Workforce Now is a regional research initiative conducted by FSW, Florida Gulf Coast University, and Hodges University to provide better information on regional workforce gaps, skills, and characteristics to both educators and the public.

“The quality of the regional workforce is a primary competitive factor in its growth and economic development,” Dr. Meyer said. “We have developed groundbreaking research, and it has been successful in our region and at FSW.”

Dr. Meyer presented the first three Workforce Now reports to administrators and faculty from community colleges, technical schools, and four-year schools that provide workforce training across the United States. The report offers information gained from extensive surveys and interviews of three large established employers across Southwest Florida, three key business sectors in Southwest Florida, and key stakeholders from public and private educational institutions representing universities, colleges, technical schools, and K-12 school systems in the region.

“In the spirit of collegiality and because we all share the common goal of preparing students to enter the workforce, it is important for schools to share their successes with one another in order to more broadly support economic development,” Dr. Meyer said.

About The National Council for Workforce Education: The National Council for Workforce Education is committed to promoting excellence and growth in workforce education. As an affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), NCWE provides a national forum for administrators and faculty in workforce education and basic skills, as well as representatives of business, labor, military, and government, to affect and direct the future role of two-year and other post-secondary institutions in workforce education and economic development. NCWE provides the link between policy and workforce education and economic development by providing support, research, and critical information to members on current and future trends and policies.

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Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and one of the most affordable institutions of higher education. Annually serving more than 22,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees, and professional certifications. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. FSW will debut its intercollegiate athletics program in the fall 2015. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information. 

Last Updated: November 10, 2014