In the past couple decades America has seen a vast change in its job market. The production of American made goods has dropped staggeringly and left a void within our economy that we’ve been trying to fill for well over ten years. However we now find ourselves in an age where much of our society is growing increasingly conscious of our planet’s environmental status, thus emphasizing the job industry of environmental sustainability or “Going Green.” However these jobs are not well known or easily acquired due to the fact that the education is not prominent throughout the country. This is something our education system needs to change.
Although sustainability has been around as a career field since the eighties it is only after the turn of the century that technology and societal interest have pushed it into the forefront of the job market. Accordingly, many colleges and universities have recently caught on to the need for education and preparation for students who will eventually fill the roles as the leaders of this 21st century job force.
Arizona State University established their School of Sustainability in 2007, the first of its kind. Helping train students to develop the technology and ideas needed in order to find the many solutions to society’s pressing problems in economics, environmental and social obstacles in sustainability.
Southwestern College has recently announced their development of a new certificated program to prepare students for careers in the clean energy industry. These certificate programs will ready students for a job field that, according to the college, will require 1200 new employees over the next three years in the San Diego region alone. Although this number may seem minuscule in comparison to our countries booming unemployment rate it is a huge step in the right direction.
Our country’s education system needs to start preparing students in the careers of the future, specifically in environmental sustainability. It is an ever growing job market that will undoubtedly produce a vast number of careers in the future, that is, if we’re prepared for it.
Mesa College like many schools and institutions has done its part in the battle to go green. Holding such events as the eco-awareness series and the annual Canyon Day coming up on March 26th; however the school needs to think bigger and begin educating students in environmental sustainability as a career. Southwestern College received over $125,000 dollars in federal funding to begin its clean energy workforce training. Mesa needs to follow suit.
It is the community college’s job to not only educate but serve the community by helping push educational programs that will benefit it. As an institution of education it can help set precedents and take the necessary steps to push our country in the direction of success through sustainability education and practices. Applying for federal grants and funding to begin educating students in sustainability is the first step.