As space industry leaders sounded a call to action this month to address growing gaps in the United States space workforce, some industry giants are already leading the charge.
Colorado Springs-based Space Foundation, through its Space Workforce for Tomorrow initiative, and International Space University, headquartered near Strasbourg, France, have teamed up to advance space education and address workforce needs in the American space industry, according to a joint news release this week.
“Together with ISU and the Space Foundation, we’re designing bold, actionable ways to prepare Americans for careers that will drive U.S. leadership in space,” Space Workforce for Tomorrow Executive Director Melanie Stricklan said in the release.
The organizations formalized a memorandum of understanding earlier this month, during the 40th Space Symposium event at The Broadmoor.
The three-year agreement lays out key areas for collaboration, including: joint development of education and training programs tailored to industry needs; coordinating outreach and professional learning through virtual and in-person platforms; exploring the possibility of a potential ISU satellite campus in Colorado Springs; and alignment with Space Workforce for Tomorrow’s national initiative to build and strengthen career pathways into the American space sector.
“This (agreement) represents a strategic step toward unifying education, innovation and access across the U.S. space ecosystem,” said Heather Pringle, Space Foundation CEO. “Our workforce is our greatest asset, and we’re committed to investing in its future.”
During a Space Symposium luncheon this month, hosted by Space Workforce for Tomorrow, experts from the military, NASA and private business warned that the U.S. has a national imperative to address these growing workforce gaps as China and other adversaries work to limit the United States’ presence in space. To do this, industry, governments, nonprofits and academia must collaborate, they said.
Interest in joining the space workforce is high among potential talent; however, too many students aren’t afforded equal opportunities to help them do that, Heather Wilson, president of the University of Texas at El Paso, said during her keynote speech at the SWFT luncheon. Wilson served as the 24th secretary of the Air Force and is also a former congresswoman.
The recent agreement will combine Space Foundation’s national presence, SWFT’s commitment to closing the space workforce talent gap and ISU’s expertise in developing a mission-ready workforce, officials said in the release.
“We’re proud to bring our educational expertise to this partnership and look forward to contributing to the development of impactful programming that supports America’s space workforce needs,” ISU President Dr. John Wensveen said. ISU touts itself as “the sole university worldwide devoted entirely to space education.”
Your Privacy Choices