Preparing Minnesota's Current and Future Workforce
Workforce and Economic Development
The Workforce and Economic Development division works in partnership with industry, government and education partners to develop the diverse, multi-talented, learning-agile workforce needed to grow Minnesota's economy now and in the future. Read more about the work we do below.
Workforce training solutions for employers are available on all 33 Minnesota State college and university campuses. Individuals can enroll in continuing education through open enrollment, or employers may contract for customized training, among other specialized services. Search for training options using the links below to train your workforce or grow your business.
Minnesota State plays a critical role in elevating career and technical education in Minnesota by increasing learner access to high-quality career and technical programs of study. We provide dedicated resources to implement programs and support the range of educational needs of students from career exploration through college and workforce preparation.
The staff in the Career and Technical Education unit provides statewide leadership and support to Minnesota State community and technical colleges and secondary school districts through a consortium partnership model. We support the mission of Minnesota State through the implementation of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) to advance career and technical education for all learners.
The Strategic Partnerships department supports and advocates for the success of adults and other underrepresented learners. With a focus on college access, we work to lower boundaries between agencies, programs, and funding streams to maximize the resources available to students and support community-based organizations and local and regional government units to serve learners. Students bring many assets to our system. And our staff is focused on creating a student-centered culture that recognizes those assets.
- Visit Strategic Partnerships.
- View the toolkits and guides we offer.
- Find Strategic Partnerships staff.
Minnesota State hosts eight Centers of Excellence serving Minnesota’s high-growth industries in: healthcare, information technology, agriculture, manufacturing/engineering, energy, and transportation. Centers of Excellence cultivate a pipeline entry point for highly qualified talent to meet industry employment needs and create a diverse workforce that offers equitable employment outcomes for students and incumbent workers. Strategically located throughout the state, the Minnesota State Centers of Excellence drive workforce innovation through education and industry partnerships to inspire students and enhance education.
The Credit for Prior Learning Assessment Network is a Minnesota State collaborative serving 26 colleges and seven universities in implementing and sustaining credit for prior learning policy and practice.
The Credit for Prior Learning Assessment Network’s mission is to:
- Provide Minnesota State students with increased access to credit for prior learning assessment opportunities, supporting students' educational progress and completion, and Minnesota State's Equity 2030 goal.
- Facilitate a comprehensive spectrum of choices for campus faculty to assess student learning for credit, certify transferable student competencies, and ensure quality.
- Collaboratively capitalize on subject-area and resource-based strengths to offer effective and equitable credit for prior learning pathways, create cross-institution crosswalks, and expand the network of campus partners using credit for prior learning standards and best practices.
For more information on the Credit for Prior Learning Assessment Network and becoming a partner campus, visit www.minnstate.edu/cplan or email cpl@minnstate.edu.
CPR & First Aid are critical skills necessary for health care and public safety in Minnesota. The Multi-Regional Training Center contracts with the American Heart Association to offer membership and services for instructors providing American Heart Association instruction. The Multi-Regional Training Center provides curriculum and classroom materials, and more for instructors.
New economic and workforce challenges mean that it is more important now than ever before to work together. Minnesota State partners with RealTime Talent to engage over 900 stakeholders from government, private industry, foundations, higher education, and non-profits to support economic growth and prosperity.
Helping Employers Train And Grow Their Workforce
Minnesota State provides training to over 2,700 businesses each year and has over 7,000 active employer partnerships. We offer information to help employers find training and understand how partnerships work.
Online Tools
We sponsor online tools to help students, job seekers, and career changers explore, plan, and find their perfect careers. Resources are available to meet the needs of diverse audiences. Visit the tools we manage below.
Resources And Guides For Educators And Faculty
Faculty and other educators can find links to programs we manage and educator resources we offer.
- Educator Guide to Work-Based Learning
- Online Learning Resource Center
- Toolkits and Guides
- Workforce Development Scholarship and Leveraged Equipment Funds
Login to ASA Connect with your Star ID to find more information
ASA SharePoint/Connect
Find information about leveraged equipment and other programs we manage on ASA SharePoint/Connect using your StarID@MinnState.edu and password.
