Former three-term New York Governor George Pataki will keynote a global summit in Essex, New York that will convene leaders in education, corporate, and philanthropy sectors from the United States, Ireland, England, and Finland on April 21 and 22. The summit will address the growing skills gap and participants will discuss the action steps needed to reverse the trend.

“Business and education need to provide pathways to emerging workforce trends,” said Pataki. “The College For Every Student summit is focused on this crucial need, preparing all students for the new economy.”

The global shortage of high-skill workers with college degrees will grow to 40 million in the next five years. It is estimated the United States will be unable to fill 23 million high-paying jobs over the next decade due to a shortage of citizens with the appropriate postsecondary skills and training.

“Over this time, more than 20 million low-income American youth will be out of work or underemployed, not because they lack ability, but because they don’t have college degrees or appropriate skills and training,” said Rick Dalton, President and CEO of College For Every Student. “That’s why we need to support these students now to bolster our economy. We need to teach them the essential skills – such as leadership, grit, teamwork – skills that create educational uplift, ensuring college and career success.”

Other nations face a similar crisis.

“Youth unemployment has soared to over 24% in the Eurozone,” said Cliona Hannon, Director of Trinity Access Programmes at Trinity College Dublin. “Employers worldwide must invest in partnerships with educational institutions and other key stakeholders.”

Following The Skills Gap Summit, CFES and Trinity College Dublin will produce a solutions-driven white paper on strategic steps needed to close the skills gap.

Keynote speakers will be live streamed. Visit www.collegefes.org/events for the Summit agenda and link.

Summit Details

WHAT: Global Summit focusing on The Skills Gap and The New Economy and Implications for Low-Incomes Students and Colleges

WHERE: CFES Center
2303 Main Street
Essex, New York

WHEN: April 21-22, 2015

SPEAKERS:

• George Pataki, Former three-term Governor of New York State
• Pasi Sahlberg, Finnish educator, author, professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Kelli Wells, Executive Director for Education & Skills, GE Foundation
• David Attis, Senior Director of Academic Research, Education Advisory Board
• Dean Garfield, President & CEO, Information Technology Industry Council

About The Summit Organizers

College For Every Student (CFES) is a nonprofit organization committed to raising the academic aspirations and performance of underserved youth so that they can gain access to and succeed in college. CFES currently serves 20,000 students in 200 schools across 24 states and Ireland.

Founded in 1592, Trinity College Dublin (www.tcd.ie) is situated in an historic campus at the heart of Ireland’s capital city, Dublin. As Ireland’s premier university, the pursuit of excellence through research and scholarship is at the heart of a Trinity education. The Trinity Access Programs (TAP) are a central part of Trinity’s plan to encourage students with ability and potential from low income backgrounds to participate in higher education and to realize their potential.

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