26th Annual Conference of the New England Governors and the Eastern Canadian Premiers

WHEREAS, New England and Eastern Canada have among the highest concentration of information technology workers in the nation, with major specializations in high skill, high wage information technology occupations, which are integral for the region's high tech computer, electronics, e-commerce and communications sectors, as well as other industries such as finance, insurance and manufacturing; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers recognizes the importance of continuing to build the skills of its workforce in information technology to strengthen its ability to compete and sustain the long-term economic growth of the knowledge economy; and

WHEREAS, the development of a highly skilled, well-educated workforce was identified at the NEG-ECP Knowledge Industry Innovators' Forum as an important building block for the continued development of the knowledge economy in the region; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors have worked together to identify potential regional activities to address the issue of information technology workforce development; and

WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Premiers recognizes the importance of the ability to predict and respond to the changing information technology workforce needs will be critical to maximizing opportunities to develop the region's knowledge economy in the future;

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers will cooperate in addressing regional information technology workforce needs to enhance and build upon state and provincial initiatives already underway; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference task a group of key knowledge industry stakeholders to work together to identify appropriate actions t

   
• Identify, develop and promote the adoption of appropriate skill standards and assessment tools to ensure the region's education and training institutions and their graduates are recognized internationally for excellence;    

   

     
   
• Improve regional information technology workforce projections and analysis initiatives in order to better anticipate and adapt to the changing needs of the knowledge economy; and    

   

     
   
• Develop networks and share best practices on a regional basis by continuing, in the tradition of the Innovators' Forum, to meet annually to discuss key issues such as: workforce development, building educational excellence, career awareness and internships, Research and Development, technology incubation and commercialization and access to financing; in order to build the knowledge economy of New England and Eastern Canada;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference directs the group of key knowledge economy stakeholders to report back on this development effort at the 27th Annual Conference in 2002.

Adopted at the 26^th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, August 26-28, 2001.

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