Higher education is going to be a hot topic over the next month in Florida, with two summits discussing the importance of education being held in Orlando in the coming weeks.
Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday he would be holding a jobs-focused seminar in Orlando.
“Over the past five years, we have turned our economy around with the hard work of our skilled workforce, job creators, and educators, but we still have more work to do. We want businesses to know that Florida graduates are ready to fill jobs in high-demand fields as soon as they get their diplomas,” said Scott in a statement. “The Degrees to Jobs Summit will connect members of Florida’s education system and business leaders to discuss how we can better prepare students to get a great education for a high-skill, high-wage job and graduate with a great career in the Sunshine State.”
The summit will feature over 50 speakers as well as several headline speakers on panels, like Florida State University Football Coach Jimbo Fisher and University of Florida Football Coach Jim McElwain.
Several CEOs of businesses will also speak of a mixture of businessmen and women and will be held at the Loews Portofino Hotel at Universal in Orlando May 25 and 26.
Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart, Chancellor of the Florida College System Madeline Pumariega and Chancellor of the State University System of Florida Marshall Criser III will also be speaking at the event.
According to the governor’s website, the summit will include policy breakout sessions, and networking opportunities with a reception on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The event aims to “bring business leaders and education stakeholders together to focus on best practices that will help students get jobs upon graduation, with an emphasis on college affordability.”
The Degrees to Jobs Summit is free to attend.
In a video promoting the summit, Scott says Florida businesses have created more than 1 million jobs since December 2010.
“To continue this success, out higher education system must focus on preparing students for these newly-created jobs,” he says. “We want each graduate to be prepared with the skills they need to get a job and succeed in Florida.”
The summit follows a statewide tour of 12 universities around the state by incoming Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart.
Negron has planned to put the spotlight on higher education as part of his term as president. The Stuart Republican is aiming to improve Florida universities’ quality of education as well as their reputations.
Negron plans to boost higher education funding through more scholarships and financial aid to help students complete college in four years as well as improving buildings and facilities on campuses. Negron also wants to attract the highest-quality educators and faculty members to work at Florida’s universities.
A full agenda of the governor’s summit will be available shortly.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
