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