Economy

Strategic Priority

Grow a prosperous economy through lifelong learning and development.

Signature Initiative

Fostering a resilient and future-ready workforce through delivering educational programs and promoting lifelong learning.

Initiative Summary

Illinois Extension, as a trusted partner, will contribute to growing a prosperous economy through the development of programs for lifelong learning, financial wellness, and skills building for Illinois residents.

By offering in-person, virtual, and self-paced learning, Illinois Extension will guide program participants through structured educational pathways such that they gain knowledge, skills, and experiences that advance their professional expertise and qualifications. Workforce development, financial capability, continuing education, and upskilling opportunities will empower existing, returning, and emerging workers, entrepreneurs, and professionals of diverse backgrounds to succeed in a varied marketplace.

Illinois Extension will collaborate with key partners, including University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, industry, government, and community colleges, among others, to promote and/or deliver lifelong learning.

Key Actions

Research and Analysis
1. Conduct environmental scans, gap analyses, and existing Extension program scans to direct future-focused educational programs.
2. Develop guidelines for what efforts support workforce development and financial capability.
3. Identify new opportunities for programming.
Curricula Development
1. Identify, revise, and update existing programs that meet (or can meet) the criteria for a workforce development program and support the findings from environmental scans, gap analyses, and existing Extension program scans.
2. Identify, revise, and update existing programs that advance financial capability.
3. Support entrepreneurship of youth and adult audiences through skill building and training in business planning, marketing, and personnel development.
4. Develop/purchase new curricula to support findings of environmental scans.
Delivery Methods, Resources, and Technologies
1. Update and improve educational tools and platforms to facilitate learning, credentialing, and skills matching.
2. Build capacity among staff to facilitate financial wellness and workforce development education.
3. Develop partnerships and relationships with internal and external entities to support and further financial capability and workforce development efforts.
4. Curate and share information, training, and resources related to skills and employment pathways.
5. Curate and share information, training, and resources related to federal small business program grants for rural and urban start-ups.
Access
1. Work with other priority groups (technology and discovery, partnerships) to ensure digital access across the state.
2. Ensure digital and language access for diverse audiences.

Key Outcome Measures

Number of educational programs developed, revised, and modernized based on research and analysis efforts.
Number, type, and quality of partnerships supporting educational programs
Geographical coverage of career pathway reports
Number of staff trained to facilitate financial wellness and workforce development education.
Number of credentials awarded
Number and parity analysis of program participants completing courses.
Number and percent of participants reporting that their goals were met as evidenced by follow-up surveys post-completion of programs.
Website stats that show increased engagement with digital resources

Key Impacts

Primary

Creating a foundation for program development and credentialing will ensure that Extension is providing the support that Illinois residents need to adapt to the changing skills and needs of the workforce. (Economy, Partnerships)

Providing robust technologies to support lifelong learning will help Extension expand access to skills and employment pathways for all Illinois residents.

Secondary

Delivering educational programs and promoting lifelong learning increases competencies among diverse workers in varied professions that directly and indirectly impact personal and community safety, security and health, natural resources, partnerships, and digital literacy.

Rationale

New technology, labor market needs, small business development opportunities, and unknown jobs and careers of the future require credible providers of workforce development, training, and continuing education. Not all individuals have the same access to formal education and training in Illinois. Extension has the infrastructure and evidence-based educational resources to deliver a variety of teaching and learning programs to diverse audiences across Illinois.