Today, employers are desperate for human capital talent and higher education’s rising costs are being questioned as to the value proposition by students and families (i.e., how is higher education preparing for a job or a career?).

According to research, students' primary motivation for attending college is to improve their chances of landing a better job and bettering their lives and the lives of their family and communities. However, higher education does not universally consider it their responsibility to prepare students for employment, and with the rapid advancement of technology, today's curricula are often disconnected from employer needs. Employers, on the other hand, have put off investing in training. Employers have also recognized the many benefits of increased workplace diversity, but they lack the systems and cultures to not just attract, but also nurture and empower this talent.

In addition to producing high quality and innovative programs, based on the research and the input received to date, TWC has a true opportunity to analyze and lead with policy and pragmatic solutions for change.

Indeed, in many respects this area of focus speaks to how Bill Burke originally founded TWC: he saw a disconnect and a problem, developed white papers and became a leading voice for change, resulting in the now almost five decades old TWC.