Education –
The U.S. education industry provides the foundation for American prosperity. Educational institutions offer various degrees, diplomas, and certifications, such as traditional liberal arts bachelor degrees, technical skills certifications, enhancement education, and specialized professional education. The education industry produces America’s most valuable product and its greatest asset - human capital, the one asset that is the foundation for all other industries. Investment in America’s education industry is essential to achieving National Security objectives of promoting American prosperity and preserving peace through strength for America’s competitive advantage. The return on investment from the U.S. education industry is a skilled workforce able to fill shortages in critical industries that enable the nation to strengthen its defense industrial base (DIB).
The U.S. education industry is a multifaceted, decentralized system made up of layers intended to support the local school system. The ultimate goal of the education system is to produce career ready workers that meet current and future demands of the labor market. In the December 2017 National Security Strategy (NSS), President Donald Trump indicated that in order to promote prosperity we must make “support[ing] education and apprenticeship programs” a priority. President Trump further stated, “The Administration is dedicated to rejuvenating the U.S. economy [by] unleashing the potential of all Americans.” Moreover, securing a healthy DIB is critical to U.S. National Security. In other words, a strong and effective education system is critical to revitalizing the economy and securing a robust DIB. A strong education system provides a pathway to unleashing American human potential by growing critical skills necessary to maintain and renew the DIB through innovation and expertise. Accordingly, education is the foundation of a secure and prosperous economy. Ultimately, “economic security is national security.”
This paper examines the education industry, its current conditions, challenges and future outlook. It focuses on improving the output of the education industry, specifically in higher education, to support labor market demands and National Security objectives that will ultimately renew the U.S. economy and promote a U.S. competitive advantage in the 21st century knowledge-based economy. Proposed policy recommendations seek to achieve educational outcomes that support these objectives. The paper concludes with short essays discussing other education industry challenges and proposed solutions.
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