University-Industry: Preparing Students for the AI-Enabled Future of Work

By 2030, an estimated 3.8 million skilled technical and digital jobs could go unfilled in the U.S. (McKinsey Global Institute), reflecting a growing disconnect between workforce demand and how talent is prepared. This 90-minute session moves from insight to action—beginning with data on labor-market shifts, pipeline failure points, and short lightning talks highlighting models where university-industry alignment is working.The session then pivots to facilitated working groups designed as a rapid “friction-to-flow” design sprint. Participants will collaborate to identify structural barriers slowing program and credential alignment, test policy and governance “velocity hacks,” and define mutual commitments between institutions and employers. The goal: practical, scalable strategies to realign programs, credentials, and partnerships for an AI-driven economy—and move faster without sacrificing quality or relevance.