Collaboration of Minnesota Career Development Initatives

1. Collaboration of Minnesota Career Development Initatives

2. iSeek Solutions:10 years and beyond • How ISEEK started • Value Proposition • Education and workforce development partnerships • Expectations for the Future

3. Where We Started In 1996, Governor Carlson envisioned: “…a customer driven gateway to Minnesota higher education and opportunities for lifelong learning…to provide the uniform delivery of services and program offerings through…the Internet….” ISEEK was launched in 1998, followed a year later by the Minnesota Virtual University and the Career Resource System.

4. iSeek Solutions is Formed On Sept. 2000, a joint powers agreement was signed to create iSeek Solutions – a unique organization of public sector entities with connections to non-profits and industry. Pictured standing from left to right: Commissioner Earl Wilson (MDES), Commissioner David Fisher (Admin), President Mark Yudof (U of M), Commissioner Christine Jax (CFL), Executive Director Robert Poch (HESO), Commissioner Gerald Carlson (DTED). Seated: Chancellor Morrie Anderson (MnSCU).

5. iSeek Solutions: An Education and Workforce Development Partnership The Executive Board is comprised of leaders from: • Minnesota State Colleges and Universities • University of Minnesota • Department of Employment and Economic Development • Department of Education • Office of Higher Education • Office of Enterprise Technology Affiliate Board members include: • Private College Council • Department of Labor and Industry • Department of Human Services • Governor’s Workforce Development Council

6. Value Proposition Today, iSeek Solutions: • Provides a key forum for supporting education and workforce development • Has an infrastructure and expertise that has been leveraged to cost-effectively support agency initiatives • Delivers increasing value to an expanding customer base • Addresses MnSCU strategic priorities

7. Partnerships: Securing Federal grants (2007 – 2009) • DOL High Growth Job Training Initiative grant to MnSCU for energy industry • SW MN Bioscience/Renewable Energy WIRED grant • Shared Youth Vision grant to DEED Youth Programs and ISEEK in collaboration with regional partners to produce regional career information sites targeting disadvantaged youth. • National Post-Secondary Educational Cooperative grant to promote the quality and comparability of postsecondary “consumer reports” information and access to post-secondary information

8. Partnerships:Partner funded projects (2007 – 2009) • Training Fulfillment Center (MJSP grant; DEED and MnSCU Customized Training) • Regional supplements for MnCareers magazine (WIBS) • Career and education planning section of MnParentsKnow.org for parents (MDE and MnSCU) • Programs of study information through ISEEK and in the publication “Pathways to Success” (MnSCU-Perkins) • Web service for program information (MnOnline)

9. Partnerships: Content delivery for member agencies • WIA certified program inventory (DEED) • K-12 online courses (MDE) • On-line and traditional college, program, courses and certifications (MnSCU, MOHE, UofM, PCC) • Inventory of MN businesses (DEED) • Regional LMI via Regional Career Sites (DEED)

10. Partnerships: Joint content development • Labor Market Articles (DEED) • Occupation, Industry and Education content (MDE-MCIS) • Spotlight News (various) • Specialized content for Veterans, unemployed, disaster victims (CareerOneStop)

11. Supporting MnSCU Goals:Increase access and opportunity • Integrate partner agency content for diverse audiences including immigrants, disabled, Veterans and underserved populations • Inform and motivate students, making connections between career aspirations, lifestyle goals and academic requirements • Prepare students for college and career success • Curriculum supplements facilitate embedding career planning in courses • Resources provided to increase parent engagement

12. Supporting MnSCU Goals:Promote and measure high quality learning • ISEEK’s high exposure raises awareness of agency priorities • ISEEK provides “Consumer Reports” performance measures for higher education programs • Training Fulfillment Center promotes customized training • Industry sector sites promote new careers and learning opportunities • ISEEK promotes Perkins Programs of Study

13. Supporting MnSCU Goals:Enhance economic competitiveness • Informed consumers improve effectiveness of public education investments and address skill shortages • Regional sites highlight in-demand local opportunities • Industry sector sites and other content promote emerging careers and programs • Training Fulfillment Center directs training to meet employer and worker needs

14. Supporting MnSCU Goals: Innovate to meet educational needs • ISEEK substitutes self-service for expensive intermediated services • ISEEK infrastructure project facilitates supporting additional sites • Implementing rigorous Web design practices improves responsiveness and quality • ISEEK redesign is engaging new audiences with targeted content, Web 2.0 features, multimedia and interactivity

15. Expectations for the Future The original drivers behind ISEEK are all there – and then some. What has changed is: • The economic imperative • The Internet is now the dominant form of information dissemination • User expectations have dramatically increased • Technology enables us to meet more demanding user expectations and integrate online applications

16. Expectations for the Future • Customized content maintained by non-technical subject matter experts - and end users • Engaging, interactive, personalized web experience to motivate users • Expand cross-agency partnerships: provide an integrated, comprehensive, web “toolkit” for improved service • Inexpensive, self-directed e-services with data mining and analysis to target individual interventions and inform aggregate policies

17. Thank You!