Global Skills, Certification, and the Community College Opportunity

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Global Skills, Certification, and the Community
College Opportunity

• James F. Foley
• Bradley University
• 2004 National Forum on Trade Policy

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Todays Topics

• Global forces are creating huge demands on
  workforce development and higher education
  plays a critical role
• What skills do we (in the Midwest) see as
  critical to develop
• Implications for Community Colleges
• The role of certification and global skills

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My Perspective

• Bradley University, Peoria Illinois
• 5000 u/grad 1000 grad, 107 years old, private
• Foster College of Business Administration (AACSB,
  1000 students)
• Turner Center for Entrepreneurship
• Top 25 nationally for most connected and most
  entrepreneurial (Princeton Review)
• International Trade Center / NAFTA Opportunity
  Center SBDCs (SBA and State funded)
• NASBITE (North American Small Business
  International Trade Educators)
• IATTO (International Association of Trade
  Training Organizations)

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Our Challenge21st Century Workers

• Alvin Toffler, Futurist Author
• The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be
  those who cannot read or write, but those who
  cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.
• As such, the liberal arts and bachelors goals
  remains as critical as ever but

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Workforce Development(SBA Region 5)

• Short term displaced workers
• Long term - It is the workers without a bachelor

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Long-term job projections SBA Region 5Growth
2000-2010
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Long-term job projections SBA Region 5Growth
2000-2010
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Long-term job projections SBA Region 5Growth
2000-2010
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This is Nothing New

• 2 year colleges since formation have played a key
  role in education focused on job training
• Issue is what are the implication from global
  forces?

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Global Forces and the Value / Supply Chain

• Global forces are pushing manufacturers along the
  supply chain / SMEs have new opportunities
• Suppliers and their workers must be
• More entrepreneurial
• More generalists and flexible
• More sophisticated (ISO, EDI, adv manu. tech.,
  high tech components incl composites)
• AND more trade focused

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2) Falling Trade Barriers and Access to
Technology Are New Trade Opportunities for SMEs

• SMEs and worker skills
• Awareness of how to conduct international trade
• More culturally sensitive (perhaps even
  experienced)

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3)Technology Development and Skills Will Make
Significant Impact on Company Growth

• Company and Worker Skills
• Technology development and manufacturing
  excellence
• Normally not the domain of 2-year colleges, but
  can be

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Implications for 2-Year Colleges

• SMEs need 2-yr trained students with specific
  skills
• There is a need to develop entrepreneurial skills
• Develop skills in manufacturing and technology
  development as possible through partnerships with
  4-year institutions and private sector
• International trade skills are important
• BIE programs (eg. VIB, VIA are vital)
• 2-Year Associates Degrees will still be critical
  (dev. Flexibility, adaptability, maturity, and
  perhaps leading to 4 yr deg.)

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Certificate Courses Leading to Credentials May
Help

• Community Colleges have long adopted curricula
  that leads to certificates (credit and
  non-credit)
• Benefit to workforce development
• Clear job path
• Quantifiable skill set
• Identifiable course of study, potentially quite
  short-term
• Can complement an existing 4-year degree

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And if certifying international skills is of
interest
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NASBITECertified Global Business Professional
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Trade Skills Development Challenge

• As a profession international trade still not
  recognized as a career (not just about travel)
• The practice of global commerce is highly varied
• Practitioners tend to work in one or two silos
  will inadequate training and exposures to other
  equally valid areas
• Companies are seeking proof of competence

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How Did We Get to This Point?

• Nasbite Boston 2000 conference first began the
  process of determining how to create a credential
• Met with Professional Examination Service to
  identify the required steps and funding
• Held first planning meeting Jan 2001 in NYC with
  reps from Nasbite, USDOC, and SIDO

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Initial Research Results

• Credentialing (voluntary) vs. Licensing
  (requirement often legally required)
• Can not push the process need to take the time
  to ensure the outcome is valid, reliable, and
  consistent

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Benefit to Credentialing

• Proves Competency
• Provides a professional development goal for
  employers
• Assist with hiring even if not a requirement
  XYZ Certification preferred
• Raises the level of practice - the minimum bar

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NASBITE Contracts with Professional Examination
Service

• Non-profit 501c3, NYC - based organization
  dedicated to credentialing professionals
• Facilitates the creation of the body of knowledge
  and test protocol
• Over 60 years of work with professions including
  accounting, medicine, nursing, H/R,
  pharmacology, and psychology

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Federal Partners

• US Dept of Education
• US Dept of Commerce (U.S. Commercial Service and
  the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee)
• US Small Business Administration
• US Dept of Agriculture
• USAID
• ExIm Bank

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State Involvement

• SIDO State International Development
  Organizations
• Extra help during initial stages 2001-2002 from
  State of Illinois and California Centers for
  International Trade Development (CITDs)

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CIBERS

• Florida International University
• Michigan State University
• The Ohio State University
• San Diego State University
• Temple University
• Texas AM University
• University of Illinois
• University of Memphis
• University of Texas

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National Partners

• ASBDC Association of Small Business Development
  Centers
• Private Industries (Ford, UPS, Deere, Cat. Dell
  computers)
• Joint Industry Group
• FCIB An Association of Executives in Finance,
  Credit and International Business

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International Partners

• IATTO (world) International Association of
  Trade Training Organizations
• FITT (Canada) Forum of International Trade
  Training

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Credential Development

• Phase 1 / Oct 2000 Sep 2002
• Feasibility Studies
• Focus Groups (LA, Atlanta, DC)
• Goal meet with partners to determine support and
  identify issues
• Phase 2 / July 2002 Sept 2003
• Identify the Body of Knowledge to be certified

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NASBITE CGBP Body of Knowledge
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National SurveySummer 2003

• Surveyed 1500 experts in international trade from
  small to large companies over 250 respondents
• 1) National District Export Council Members
• 2) Members of FCIB
• 3) Clients of SBDCs, ITCs, Nasbite BOG contacts,
  and volunteers from NASBITE listserve

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End Result of National Survey and Task Force
Meetings

• Used the results to reduce the Body of Knowledge
  to be tested
• Just over 100 Task/Knowledge statements now
  included in the NASBITE Practice Delineation

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Now in Phase Three

• National Exam Development Task Force (50
  individuals from public and private sector)
• Two rounds of writing will be completed
• Final exam constructed by early 2005
• First Exam March 20, 2005 at Nasbite New Orleans
  Conference, then 12 cities on June 17

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• Most asked questions about the new NASBITE CGBP
  Credential .

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What Trade Skills are Certified and at What Depth?

• The exam questions match with the NASBITE
  Practice Delineation
• The exam tests the tasks and knowledge associated
  with a practitioner who has worked in global
  trade for two years

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Who is a Suitable Candidate for the Credential?

• Individuals working in the profession
• Students studying for a career in the profession
• Individuals in small and large companies would
  benefit
• Students in both two and four year college
  programs

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What is Required to Achieve Certification?

• Pass the NASBITE CGBP Exam
• Have completed either two years of college-level
  studies OR two years working in the field of
  global business

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What is the Exam?

• 150 multiple choice questions
• Questions are from the NASBITE Practice
  Delineation
• Exam costs 395 plus 50 registration fee

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How Best to Prepare?

• NASBITE does not directly train candidates
• Best preparation is through colleges,
  universities, trade centers, and training
  organizations
• The NASBITE CGBP enhances existing training
  programs

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Implications for Trade Training Programs

• Colleges and universities are comparing existing
  curricula with NASBITE Practice Delineation
• Many are looking at certificate course as a way
  of offering training
• Conferences can be used for faculty training

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More Information

• Please review the CGBP brochure available on our
  website or contact NASBITE directly
• www.nasbitecgbp.org
• PH 937-775-3524
• (or) Jim Foley NASBITE CGBP Director (309)
  677-3075 / jff_at_bradley.edu