EPIC Solutions: Building Career Readiness Through Real-World Projects

Sydney Lewis
Associate Manager, Communications

Published

July 03, 2024

In a world demanding practical skills and work experience, young Americans face a significant opportunity gap. Research from American Student Assistance shows that while 79 percent of high school students desire work-based learning experiences, only 34 percent know of such opportunities, and only two percent engage in hands-on career learning during high school.

At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, we're addressing this gap through our Employer Provided Innovation Challenges (EPIC) initiative. EPIC connects businesses with students to tackle real-world challenges, offering a scalable alternative to how work-based learning opportunities are traditionally stood up, which are often limited in number and accessibility.

Drawing on our extensive network, EPIC delivers impactful learning experiences that immerse students in real business challenges. We're setting a new standard for experiential, skills-driven learning across high school and post-secondary education, building a pipeline of innovative, job-ready talent for employers.

Our EPIC pilot emphasized the power of collaboration between businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations nationwide. At our Summer 2024 Meeting, the EPIC network shared successes, explored ideas, and heard from students and partners on the impact of work-based learning opportunities in communities.

The highlight of the event was hearing from three student teams who tackled real business challenges:

Clinton College and Comporium: Enhancing Retail Experience

In Rock Hill, South Carolina, we partnered with the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce to connect Clinton College students with Comporium, a local telecommunications and security services provider. Students were challenged to enhance the buyer experience for young adults (18-29) at Comporium's newly renovated flagship store. They applied classroom knowledge to conduct competitor analyses, create SWOT analyses, and develop innovative solutions. This project provided Comporium with fresh insights while equipping students with valuable experience in market research, customer service, and business strategy.

a group of women sitting in chairs with microphones — Clinton College students and EPIC challenge participants, Vanita Collins (L), Kimberly Jackson (C), and Morgan Williams (R), present on their business solutions for local retailer Comporium.

Lenawee County: Bridging Industry and Education

In Lenawee County, Michigan, we united local chemical companies with students from LISD TECH Center through our partner, Lenawee Now. The challenge: rebranding the chemical industry as a safe, progressive career choice. Over eight weeks, students developed a digital marketing campaign for the Lenawee County Chemical Collaborative, gaining hands-on experience in market research and digital marketing. This collaboration addressed workforce challenges in the chemical sector while opening students' eyes to exciting local career opportunities.

two men standing in front of a screen — Diego Juarez and Sam Solis represent Lenawee Intermediate School District (LISD) at the EPIC Summer Meeting where they presented their digital marketing plan for talent attraction and retention in the chemical industry.

San Diego Business Solutions: Streamlining Film Permits

In San Diego, we facilitated a partnership between the San Diego Regional Economic Development Council, San Diego Workforce Partnership, and The Basement at the University of California San Diego to create a user-friendly film permit application website for the county. Over 20 weeks, students from diverse academic backgrounds applied design thinking and web development skills to streamline the permitting process, aiming to boost San Diego's competitiveness as a filming location. This project equipped students with real-world experience in project management and stakeholder engagement, demonstrating how cross-sector partnerships can solve community challenges while preparing the next generation of problem-solvers.

a group of people sitting in chairs — L-R: UC San Diego students, Madison Kim, Leah Tawara, Kate Fernandez, and Nayeli Trejo, present their solution to enhance film permitting processes at the EPIC 2024 Summer Meeting in Washington, D.C.

EPIC brings together classrooms and businesses, helping students gain real-world skills while solving authentic business problems. We're growing our network of partners to give more students these chances. By doing this, we're not just getting students ready for jobs – we're helping create the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers for our communities.

1/9The EPIC network includes educators, students, community and business leaders, and partners across the country.

a woman standing at a podium with a large screen on the wall

2/9Chamber Foundation Executive Director Sarah Castro kicks off the Summer Meeting.

3/9Participants started the day with an exercise on creative thinking by building ducks with LEGOs, showcasing different approaches to solve challenges.

4/9EPIC partners Judy Goldstein (L) of American Student Assistance, Jason Terrell (C) of the Walton Family Foundation, and Dave Savory (R) of Riipen speak on a panel on how to expand work based learning opportunities.

a group of women sitting around a round table

5/9Participants engaged in productive breakout sessions covering key aspects of implementing work-based learning programs, including support integration, marketing strategies, and recruitment techniques.

a man standing at a podium with a screen and a large screen

6/9Chamber Foundation Senior Vice President Jason Tyszko gives a keynote on the future of credentialing and project-based learning at the 2024 EPIC Summer Meeting.