Signature Initiatives

Bold Solutions for a Stronger, More Competitive Workforce

The strength of the U.S. workforce depends on bold action from business and higher education leaders. As industries evolve, talent strategies must keep pace—ensuring all workers are equipped with the skills, experiences, and opportunities to thrive in a rapidly changing economy.

At the Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF), we unite corporate and academic leaders to drive workforce innovations through one of America’s greatest economic assets: higher education.

In 2025, we’re launching three initiatives to bring together business executives and higher education leaders to develop solutions that ensure every American can thrive in fulfilling careers and contribute to our nation’s success:

AI and the Future of Talent Collaborative

Nearly a third of workers will see AI significantly impact their jobs, with AI expected to disrupt 50 percent of tasks. That’s why BHEF is launching a national collaborative to bring together global leaders in AI across sectors. This collaborative will help businesses and educators understand AI’s impact on key U.S. industries, develop a broad-based workforce skilled in using AI, and develop solutions to use AI effectively and ethically.

Learn more.

Work-Integrated Learning Innovation Center

Employers seek talent with real-world experience, and students need opportunities to develop skills and social capital in professional settings, especially in a world where many entry level roles are changing due to automation. However, an estimated 4.6 million learners in the U.S. miss out. To address this problem, BHEF is launching the Work-Integrated Learning Innovation Center. This initiative will help businesses and educators expand hands-on learning models—like internships, apprenticeships, and project-based experiences—that align education with workforce needs and prepare learners for high-demand careers.

Launching spring 2025.

Regional Talent Competitiveness Accelerator

As technology rapidly evolves and global supply chains shift, impacts on regional workforces will vary drastically. Since 2021, the United States has invested more than $41 billion in regional investments to drive domestic company growth and regional coalitions. To fully realize the return on these investments, regional business communities and higher education must lead by aligning talent strategies with economic growth. BHEF is launching the Regional Talent Competitiveness Accelerator to address that alignment. This initiative will equip business and higher education leaders with data-driven strategies, best practices, and collaboration models to strengthen regional talent pipelines and enhance U.S. workforce competitiveness on a global scale.