Academic Innovation Summer Conference to Help Shape Future of Work
The Faculty & Staff Summer Conference, organized by the Office of Academic Innovation with the theme “Exploring the Future of Work,” will be held from May 29 to May 31, at Cal Poly Pomona. This event is designed to bring together academic and industry professionals from Cal Poly Pomona and other esteemed institutions to navigate the evolving landscape of education and its intersection with the workforce of tomorrow.
Winny Dong, conference chair and faculty director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at Cal Poly Pomona, emphasized the conference's focus on career readiness.
"The summer conference highlights how higher education can prioritize career readiness to prepare students to translate their knowledge into real-world applications, where they don't just become lifelong learners, but achieve long-term career success,” they said.
Attendees can look forward to a rich program focused on integrating career preparedness spread across two main tracks: Career Readiness in the Curriculum and Career Readiness through Campus Student Employment. With expert-led panels, interactive workshops, and hands-on sessions, participants will gain practical strategies and tools to enhance career readiness initiatives in their roles.
The Career Readiness in the Curriculum track, starting with an understanding of career readiness and its importance for student success, includes practical sessions on curriculum design and assessment, utilizing tools like rubrics and adaptable modules. Interactive workshops allow participants to apply these strategies directly to their courses, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches and the use of campus resources. A highlight of this track is a panel featuring employers and alumni, providing insights into the competencies that are most valued in today’s job market. This track also stresses the importance of collaborating with career centers to boost curriculum efficacy, ultimately helping educators create actionable plans for integrating career readiness into their teaching.
The Career Readiness through Campus Student Employment track offers a comprehensive method for incorporating the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies into campus student jobs, vital for navigating the evolving job market. It starts with a deep dive into key competencies such as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, digital literacy, leadership, professionalism, and career management, equipping participants with the knowledge to cultivate these skills in student employees. The track emphasizes practical implementation, providing strategies to integrate skill development into daily tasks efficiently, even with limited managerial time. It features a strong focus on the Iowa GROW® initiative and guided reflection practices, proving their effectiveness in bridging classroom learning with real-world work experiences. This approach not only elevates student employment as a transformative activity but also arms managers with the necessary tools to create a learning-centric work environment.
In addition to in-depth sessions, the program includes expert-led panels, interactive workshops, and actionable strategies for enhancing career readiness initiatives. Keynote speakers such as Jeremy Podany, Olukemi Sawyerr, and Mathew Brink will offer insights into workforce development and educational innovation.
The summer conference also offers attendees opportunities to connect and network with other professionals. Attendees can participate in the networking social at Innovation Brew Works at the end of day one of the conference.
The Office of Academic Innovation and the NSF INVESTS grant will cover the registration costs for all Cal Poly Pomona faculty and staff with use of promo code “CPP2024”. For non-CPP faculty and staff, early registration is $175 and ends on May 14. After that, the registration cost is $225. All tickets include continental breakfast and lunch for all three days.
Registration for the Faculty & Staff Summer Conference is now open! To register and learn more about the conference, visit the Office of Academic Innovation’s website.