Strategically Aligning Curriculum with Future Employer Needs Using the Skill Standards Process

Whether developing new programs or updating existing programs, educators and their industry partners must effectively – and efficiently – communicate and collaborate to create curricula needed to help graduates meet the needs of the workforce. The “IT Skill Standards 2020 and Beyond” (ITSS) National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) project collaborated with over 250 employers across the country to identify and develop future-facing skill standards for the most critical IT job clusters. The Texas Skills Standards Board has recognized and adopted those six standards clusters. The “engine” that powered this work was the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model, which provides a structured, repeatable method for engaging employers nationwide to ensure curriculum aligns with workforce needs. To date, over 150 colleges, universities, and projects across 35 states have adopted the BILT model. In 2023 and 2024, the overall skill standards development process – which includes the BILT Model – was taught to faculty and administrators across multiple technical disciplines. Overall, six ITSS Summit workshops were held for over 100 attendees from 44 schools in 21 states. Ten ITSS Summit teams participated in 1:1 mentoring sessions in Spring 2024 with grant staff to support their implementation. Each team pursued customized goals to strengthen their own programs’ relationships with employers and better align the curriculum to workforce needs. Quantitative and qualitative survey data on the impact of the ITSS Summit program demonstrate the value of the ITSS Process and the BILT model of industry engagement.