Center for 21st Century Innovation & Workforce Development

The COVID-19 pandemic, economic crisis and systemic racial inequities in the workforce have changed the way people learn, work, communicate and live. Responding to the region’s workforce needs is critical for the survival of our communities.

The Center for 21st Century Innovation and Workforce Development works to build and advance an interconnected 21st-century workforce development ecosystem that responds to the new reality of the COVID-19 digital landscape, systemic racial inequities, occupational segregation and displaced workers through stackable trainings, certificates, credentials and credits that articulate into career and college pathways. The pathways approach may prompt government, education and industry leaders to assess the condition of these pathways and work collectively to enable and strengthen them.

The Center for 21st Century Innovation and Workforce Development offers:

Credentials
Certificates
Apprenticeship programs
Innovative program delivery
Professional development
Trainings and workshop series

A man stands behind a woman at a computer screen in a workforce development class with other students around them. — College Students At Computers In Technology Class

Partners

The center’s success relies on innovative industry partnerships with Carlow’s academia. Some of our current partners include:

PASSHE ECE Professional Development Organization
Pittsburgh International Airport
Pennsylvania Department of Labor

MINNIM Software
UPMC
The Fred Rogers Center

Featured HUB

The center hosts individual HUBs to explore new programs, partnerships and pathways. A featured HUB is the Early Childhood Education Apprenticeship Program, which is designed to:

Reduce workforce barriers to credential and degree attainment
Diversify the early childhood workforce pipeline
Elevate the quality of child care as evidenced through higher STARS ratings

Increase higher quality caregiver interactions
Elevate scores on environmental rating scales through coordinating the efforts of key stakeholders and providing targeted apprenticeship supports

Highlights and benefits of the program include:

Two tracks: Early Development and Learning; Early Childhood Education with Pre-K Certification Preparation
Up to 24 credits for on-the-job learning
On-site and online courses one night a week at a Carlow location
Coaching by on-site coaches and mentorship by University supervisors
Free access to a professional lending library of course materials, textbooks and digital media tools

Ability to borrow early childhood materials and resources
Free early childhood professional development required by Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL)
Free tutoring and career and academic support services for support in coursework and preparation for required certification tests

Featured Partnership

In COVID-19’s post-digital landscape, many small businesses have relied more heavily on online sales and product navigation. Carlow has partnered with MINNIM Software to offer test automation training.

Contact Workforce Development

Rae Ann Hirsh, DEd Executive Director, Center for 21st Century Innovation and Workforce Development (C21) & Program Director, Early Childhood Education, Professor