News Archive: March 2009
OECD Work on Innovation: A Stocktaking of Existing Work
Paris: In May 2007, OECD Ministers mandated the preparation of an OECD Innovation Strategy. The Strategy has two broad aims: first, addressing countries' needs for a more comprehensive, coherent and timely understanding of how to promote, measure and assess innovation and its underlying dynamics of change; and, second, shedding light on appropriate multi-sector and whole-of-government approaches to innovation as a driver of sustainable growth, productivity and development and as a tool to address global challenges.
Work on the Strategy is to take place over 2008-09, with a synthesis report to be delivered to the Ministerial Council Meeting in 2010. This paper forms part of the first phase of work on the Innovation Strategy. It draws on OECD work from the last ten years to provide a broad-brush overview of "what we know" about good policy practices for innovation. It also highlights recent changes in innovation processes and patterns, describes the increasing levels of internationalization, and draws together early thinking on the contribution of innovation to solving global challenges related to the environment. Click here for a downloadable copy of the paper.
Record Number of County Residents Receive Career Readiness Certificates
Lancaster: On Wednesday, March 4, 2008, nearly 300 Lancaster County residents received a Career Readiness Certificate in recognition of their completion of the Ready2Work program at the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County during a ceremony at Liberty Place. The Certificate is sponsored locally by The Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the PA CareerLink of Lancaster County, and the Lancaster County Workforce Investment Board. It is affiliated with a national program using the WorkKeys assessment system that is a part of American College Testing services. More than 1,500 people attended the Job and Career Fair that followed the graduation.
Mayor Rick Gray, Commissioner Craig Lehman, Chamber President Tom Baldrige, and Workforce Investment Board Director Scott Sheely addressed the graduates as did Mark Moosic, General Manager of the new Convention Center complex. Officials of the Lancaster County Convention Center and the Marriott Lancaster at Penn Square have promised Ready2Work graduates that they would receive preferential consideration when hiring begins next week. Sheely complimented the graduates for increasing their skills in advance of the economic recovery that is to come. Mayor Gray spoke to the positive investment by so many City residents in training that will prepare them to be a part of the new Convention Center. Commissioner Lehman stressed the enthusiasm and positive attitude of the graduates while Baldrige thanked the 40 other employers who attended the event and commented on the hopeful attitude of all involved in these trying economic times. Moosic reminded those present that the hiring for the Center begins next week.
A Job and Career Fair followed the graduation which was open to the new certificate holders as well as the public. Nearly 40 employers attended including Aerotek, AFLAC, Coldwell Banker, Consolidated School of Business, Lancaster County Convention Center, County of Lancaster, Dart Container, Donsco Inc., Easton Coach, Four Seasons Produce, Friendship Community, Fulton Bank, Go Green, Golden Living Center, Gooding Simpson & Mackes, Hildebrandt Learning Centers, JFC Staffing, Kelly Services, Lancaster General Hospital, Maple Farms, Lancaster Laboratories, Links2Care, Manheim Auto Auction, Mennonite Home Communities, Occupational Development Center, Pepsi Bottling Group, Scantron Corporation, Securitas Security Services, System One, the Jay Group, the Performance Group, Turkey Hill Dairy, United Disabilities Services, US Army, WARM 103/Cumulus, Weaver Associates, and Y & S Candies. Consolidated School of Business, YTI Career Institute, Community Action Program, Council of Three Rivers, Harrisburg Area Community College, Lancaster County Career and Technology Center, PA Department of Public Welfare, and the Department of Veterans Affairs also attended.
While nearly 300 peoplegraduated from the Ready2Work program today, there are still another 300+ people in the program who will graduate in the next several months.
