Powerful Career Pathways

CORD helps educators transform disconnected programs into dynamic career pathways—to drive individual economic success, business growth, and community vibrancy.

Register Now for NCPN CONNECT 2025

Don’t be left behind

In today’s rapidly changing economy, there is immense pressure on schools and colleges to keep pace with emerging technologies’ impact on careers.

Building industry-responsive career pathways requires coordinated ecosystems and engaged employers to create seamless, supportive programs for learners of all ages.

Through CORD’s Framework for Career Pathways Alignment, we’ll guide you in engaging employers and community partners to build the workforce of the future.

FRAMEWORK FOR CAREER PATHWAYS ALIGNMENT

Let CORD be your guide

Through technical assistance and professional development, CORD is your partner in breaking down silos and fostering collaborative growth.

Featured Programs

Professionals across secondary, postsecondary, and adult education turn to NCPN to become career pathways masters. Earn a Career Pathways Leadership certification, attend the annual NCPN CONNECT conference, or invite us to present a workshop tailored to your local needs.

Take your business advisory council to the next level with the Business & Industry Leadership Team (BILT) model. Learn how to strategically engage employers to build industry-responsive programs and foster innovation. Apply for BILT Academy cohort 5! Bonus: Participation is funded by NSF.

Equip students for tomorrow’s jobs. Enhance your courses using free instructional cards, videos, and our STEM Core Resources Toolkit. Integrate employer-valued skills across multiple disciplines to support emerging careers and rapid technology adoption.

Bolster employability skills of entry-level technicians in STEM fields. Tap into our instructional resources, professional development, and network activities to bridge proficiency gaps identified by employers.

Over the last 45 years, CORD has helped thousands of educators and institutions

“CORD excels at providing comprehensive support, genuinely understanding and meeting the needs of those they serve. They innovate in problem-solving for educators, actively listen to pain points, and determine effective solutions. This is why I chose CORD for our big project, as I needed excellent instructional design and contextualized learning.”

Community College President

News & Events

Career Pathways Webinar Series
NCPN Connected Conversations: Creating Industry-responsive and Learner-supportive Career Pathways

Begins October 18. Join thought leaders in education and industry as they share insights and actionable strategies for building career pathways that align with industry needs and support learner success.

Conference
NCPN CONNECT 2025

February 26–28, Austin, Texas. For over 30 years, the NCPN conference has been dedicated to strengthening the education-to-careers pipeline through Career Pathways, Adult Career Pathways, career and technical education (CTE), and workforce development initiatives.

EU Study Tour: Gleaning Insights from European Innovations in Vocational Education and Training

A team of community college educators from across the US recently participated in a study tour of Spain and Germany. This initiative was part of the “Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work” project, funded by NSF.

Integrating Emerging and Cross-Cutting Technologies: Electric Vehicles with Kevin Cooper

Presented by the NSF ATE project Preparing Technicians for the Future of Work, this podcast delves into the burgeoning realms of renewable energy and electric vehicles (EV) and the need to train future professionals for the EV sector.

Advanced Manufacturing Competencies for Personal and Career Success

The Necessary Skills Now project partnered with advanced manufacturing faculty at Forsyth Technical Community College and their employer partners to develop employability skill development resources for existing manufacturing courses.

Let's Get Started

Schedule a complimentary strategy session with Dr. Jennifer Jirous-Rapp, Vice President of Pathways and Partnerships, to discuss your needs and explore the possibilities.