This spring, educators and employers from northern Minnesota came together for a regional Work-Based Learning (WBL) workshop series focused on strengthening career-connected learning opportunities for students. The series was launched by Get Ready GEAR UP Minnesota in response to partner schools identifying work-based learning, internships, and experiential learning as a key area of needed support.
Led by GPS Education Partners, the series is designed to help schools move from vision to implementation and has centered on a critical question: How do we build sustainable partnerships between schools and employers that expand students’ access to meaningful, career-connected learning aligned with regional workforce needs?
During the first workshop, schools took a deep dive into what it takes to build work-based learning programs that are both successful and sustainable, starting with a clear vision and goals, supported by strong infrastructure, and powered by champions within the school and the broader community. Participants left with practical strategies they could apply right away, a shared “North Star” vision statement to guide their work, and an initial action plan designed to make WBL efforts more manageable, scalable, and realistic to implement over time.
During the second workshop in the series, “Pathways to Partnerships,” participating schools and employer partners focused on building stronger systems for employer outreach, onboarding, and long-term collaboration. Rather than approaching businesses with broad or transactional requests, schools were coached to build authentic relationships, communicate with workforce-centered language, and create low-barrier entry points for employer participation. The conversation was strengthened by employers and partners who joined us for Workshop 2 including Sanford Health, Essentia Health, North Homes Children and Family Services, and RMCEP, who shared insights about what makes partnerships workable from the employer side.
A major theme that emerged from the convening was that employers are eager to be part of the solution and are looking for collaborative partnership and shared structures to support schools. Employers consistently shared that they are not simply looking to fill open positions today; they are looking to help develop and retain the future workforce of Northern Minnesota.
The workshops intentionally created space for schools and employers to learn directly from one another. Through facilitated discussions, employers heard schools describe emerging WBL programs and student needs, while educators gained valuable insight into workforce expectations, talent shortages, and barriers businesses face when engaging students.
One of the strongest takeaways from the series has been the importance of starting small and building trust over time. Employers were introduced to an “Engagement Continuum” that demonstrated how partnership can begin with simple, low-risk opportunities such as classroom speaking engagements, facility tours, mock interviews, or career panels before evolving into internships, youth apprenticeships, or direct talent pipelines.
Each school left the workshop with new partnership opportunities with local employers and employer partners completed post-workshop surveys letting the schools know about all the ways they would like to engage students in their work-based learning programs.
As the series continues, participating schools are working together to build and strengthen regional employer engagement, expand pathway awareness for students and families, and create new meaningful work-based learning opportunities that connect classrooms to careers in Northern Minnesota.
The momentum generated through these convenings reflects a shared commitment to ensuring students can envision and build a successful future within their own communities.