In this week's episode of Trending in Education, Ryan Craig, author of the new book Apprentice Nation: How the "Earn and Learn" Alternative to Higher Education Will Create a Stronger and Fairer America, joins host Mike Palmer to dive into how "earn and learn" models like apprenticeships can bridge the growing experience gap facing young workers seeking their first good job.
Craig makes a compelling case for why apprenticeships should be a mainstream option for high school graduates, not just a pathway for trade occupations. He argues apprenticeships can provide the work experience and skills training needed to prepare young people for high-demand roles in fields like cybersecurity, healthcare, and software development while presenting a less risky alternative to the loan-based approach that predominates in higher education.
The discussion reveals how apprenticeships have languished in the US compared to countries like Switzerland and Germany. Craig advocates passionately for greater government investment and support for intermediaries that can set up and run apprenticeship programs at scale. Without this kind of backing, companies lack incentives and capacity to provide these earn-and-learn opportunities. The lively exchange offers thought-provoking ideas around closing both the skills gap and the growing "experience gap" faced by college graduates who aren't graduating ready to work. Craig warns that employers are increasingly expecting entry-level hires to already have real work experience. Apprenticeships and other earn-and-learn models can help bridge this divide.
If you care about creating new pathways to economic mobility and opportunity for young Americans in the digital age, you won't want to miss this forward-thinking discussion. Tune in to hear Craig's compelling vision for how an "Apprentice Nation" could transform education and workforce training.
Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more sharp takes on the future of education.
The Best of Trending in Ed - Dr. Jacqueline Bhabha on Education as a Human Right
Lessons Learned from James Webb, SpaceX, and CERN
Playful Learning with LEGO Education Plus Title IX and Roe
Trends in Global Professional Education with Lisa Rohrer
Developing Psychological Citizens with Dr. Fathali Moghaddam
Convertible Learning with Steve Joordens, Irameet Kaur, and Atef Abuhmaid
Focusing in on the Future of Work
Three Emerging Trends for the Summer of 2022
Sentient AI and Podfasters with Nancy our Virtual CoHost
Building Access Pathways into Healthcare with Dr. Joanitt Montano
Lessons Learned from Sports after Uvalde and Buffalo
Workplace Learning Trends and the Future of Work
The 60-Year Curriculum with Dr. Rovy Branon
Summer 2022 Reflections
Media Literacy, Critical Thinking, and the News with Arjun Moorthy
Skills Visibility and Equity with Kathleen DeLaski
Bringing Digital Transformation to the Front of the Classroom with Matt Cole
Skills Based Learning Pathways with Jane Oates
Building a Platform to Teach Literacy with Whole Books
The Education Conference Scene and Emerging EdTech with Tony Wan
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Teachers Talk Radio
LifeBlood
Navigating Life After 40
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast