Universities and Transportation Workforce Development: Challenges and Opportunities
Thomas O’Brien, Ph.D.METRANS Transportation CenterCalifornia State University, Long Beach
Widmeyer Research ConferenceNovember 4, 2010
METRANS Partnership• CSULB
– 35,000 students (29,000 undergrad and 6,000 grad students)– 1,114 full-time faculty– Students from 56 counties in CA– Center for International Trade and Transportation
(CITT)• USC
– 35,000 students (17,000 undergrad and 18,000 grad students– 3,200 full-time faculty– Largest enrollment of international students in US– Policy and Planning, Engineering
CITT Programs Global Logistics Specialist Professional Designation /
GLS Online Master of Arts in Global Logistics and MAGL Day
Program Marine Terminal Operations Professional Caltrans Training Living and Working in a Port City Goods Movement Leadership Academy
MTOP University-industry
partnership 18-month
development 1st class March 2010 14 students
Caltrans Training
• Goods Movement Seminar VI – January 26-28, 2010– Held at Port of
Oakland– 34 students– Representatives
from Caltrans, CARB, FHWA
CITT Research Activities Research Collaborative with Canada/Mexico FHWA Transportation Education Development
Pilot Program Workforce Development Summit National Urban Freight Conference
TEDPP• 3-year grant• Strategies for
transportation education and training– K-12, Colleges and
Universities, Career Development
– Year 3: Curriculum development and pilot testing
CA Workforce Summit• “Ensuring the Growth of California's Transportation
Workforce: Developing the Right Workers for Today's Challenges and Tomorrow's Jobs”
• Partnership of METRANS, Mineta Transportation Institute (SJSU) and LBCC
• February 1-2, 2010 in Long Beach• 150 participants• Showcase programs and partnerships that
demonstrate innovation
CA Workforce Summit
Key Workforce Challenges
40-50% of the transportation workforce will retire in the next 10 years
Fewer people are going into key transportation fields
Competition for workers from other industries
Challenge of reaching women and minorities
Top Related