The University of Hawaiʻi System held an inaugural UH Workforce Learning Community webinar on April 4 with a virtual kickoff featuring UH President Wendy Hensel. The event, with more than 80 participants, marked an exciting new chapter in UH’s commitment to building a responsive, integrated workforce development ecosystem across its 10 campuses.
Hensel opened the session with an energizing address that underscored workforce development as one of the four strategic pillars of the UH System.
“There really is no more important work that we do,” she said. “It is absolutely academic work, deeply tied to our mission of serving students and the State of Hawaiʻi.”
Ambitious vision
Hensel outlined an ambitious vision focused on greater alignment between programs and industry needs, particularly in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, technology and cybersecurity, and sustainable agriculture. She emphasized stackable credentials, flexible access (including online and accelerated formats), and the infusion of career milestones directly into degree pathways.
“Lifelong learning is no longer optional,” Hensel said. “Whether it’s upskilling, reskilling or exploring new fields entirely, our job is to ensure our students—traditional and adult learners alike—can access seamless pathways to meaningful careers.”
A key takeaway from Hensel’s remarks was her push to leverage existing pockets of excellence across campuses and build a more unified, scalable system. She also announced the convening of a systemwide AI Task Force to integrate generative AI tools and training into UH’s curriculum, ensuring graduates are equipped for the demands of tomorrow’s workforce.
Fostering collaboration
The newly formed UH Workforce Learning Community is designed to foster collaboration between faculty and staff engaged in both credit and non-credit workforce programs—from education and university centers to continuing education and community colleges and four-year campuses across the state. With monthly Zoom meetings, the group will spotlight workforce initiatives systemwide, share best practices, and eventually welcome external partners from the public, private and philanthropic sectors.
“Efforts around workforce development, much like workforce development efforts across the public, private and philanthropic sectors in the state of Hawaiʻi, have been pretty siloed to date,” said Christine Beaule, UH system director of workforce development.
“Individuals from across the 10 campuses and our various learning centers working in the credit and non-credit, continuing education and other spaces are being brought together through this learning community to facilitate better communication and foster opportunities for productive collaboration.”
Participants left the workshop inspired and ready to take action, with the president’s call to reimagine education as a lifelong, career-connected journey resonating.
“There’s great work being done,” Hensel said. “There’s even more to do. And I’m excited to partner with all of you to make that happen.”
