Focus Forward Conference: Preparing Today for the WV of Tomorrow
WV Forward partnered with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative to host a first-of-its-kind conference this week to address how machine learning and artificial intelligence will significantly impact future jobs and required skills.
Never before have government officials, policymakers, education leaders, economists and industry executives from across West Virginia and beyond come together to discuss how machine learning will impact how we build the skills, knowledge, resiliency and productivity of West Virginia’s workforce to prepare for the rapidly evolving technology that is changing workplace skills at lightning speed. Participants and organizers also developed a list of action items and policy ideas.
The discussion among more than 100 individuals, including several WVPEC board members, was dynamic and engaging from start to finish. In her opening remarks, co-host Jen Giovannitti joked that prior to the event, many expressed their enthusiasm to attend a workforce event, while others told her they were excited to come to an education forum, and still others said they were excited to participate in an economic development conference. In the end, Focus Forward embodied all of the above. A true human capital event, the diverse discussions throughout the day captured so many ways we can, and must, prepare for the West Virginia of tomorrow.
Never before have government officials, policymakers, education leaders, economists and industry executives from across West Virginia and beyond come together to discuss how machine learning will impact how we build the skills, knowledge, resiliency and productivity of West Virginia’s workforce to prepare for the rapidly evolving technology that is changing workplace skills at lightning speed. Participants and organizers also developed a list of action items and policy ideas.
The discussion among more than 100 individuals, including several WVPEC board members, was dynamic and engaging from start to finish. In her opening remarks, co-host Jen Giovannitti joked that prior to the event, many expressed their enthusiasm to attend a workforce event, while others told her they were excited to come to an education forum, and still others said they were excited to participate in an economic development conference. In the end, Focus Forward embodied all of the above. A true human capital event, the diverse discussions throughout the day captured so many ways we can, and must, prepare for the West Virginia of tomorrow.
View the full Focus Forward program: https://wvforward.wvu.edu/files/d/0b940d48-c031-4a58-bf6e-bfc8e86b22c5/focus-forward-program-10-4-final.pdf