AlaskaCAN! 2023 Conference
AlaskaCAN! 2023 Conference
Moving Forward Together
The Alaska Postsecondary Access & Completion Network (AlaskaCAN) was thrilled to bring together colleagues and partners from across Alaska for its 9th Annual AlaskaCAN! Conference! The Core Purpose of AlaskaCAN is to advocate for Alaskans to pursue postsecondary workforce development pathways.
This year’s Conference theme, Moving Forward Together, built on the shared vision of Alaska’s education and workforce stakeholders – if we are to find ways to improve postsecondary attainment and workforce readiness in Alaska, we must do so together!
The first day of the Conference focused on Student Experience. We heard from a Student Experience Panel comprised of students from secondary and postsecondary education & career training pathways, and recent graduates, regarding their experience pursuing education and training while in and after high school. Student Panelists shared their perspectives regarding barriers and access, valuable resources on their journey, and lessons learned. Later that day, the Bridging Programs Panel spoke to programs and organizations currently available to our youth as they make a transition from secondary education into postsecondary and the workforce. In between the Panels we heard from state leaders representing Alaska Native organizations, State Agencies, and the University of Alaska System. We closed the first day of the Conference with a Work Session: Removing Barriers/Increasing Access.
The second day of the Conference focused on Workforce Readiness. The Keynote Session of Dr. Ken Coates set the stage for the day. After the Keynote Session, we heard from four different Workforce Readiness Panels representing various organizations and institutions but centered around the following sectors:
- Workforce Readiness Panel – Apprenticeships
- Workforce Readiness Panel – K-12/School Districts (Emphasis on Career Technical Education-CTE)
- Workforce Readiness Panel – Postsecondary Institutions
- Workforce Readiness Panel – Community & State Organizations
We closed the Conference with a Work Session: Finding Solutions to Barriers.