Speaking on Business: Utah System of Higher Education

Speaking on Business: Utah System of Higher Education

From Salt Lake Chamber by Salt Lake Chamber

May 21, 2026 · 2 min

About this episode

The episode discusses how Utah's colleges and universities are enhancing workforce alignment and providing value to students and employers.

This is Derek Miller, Speaking on Business. Utah’s colleges and universities are strengthening workforce alignment and delivering real value for students and employers. Geoffrey Landward, Commissioner of Higher Education, joins us to discuss how these efforts are driving earnings, opportunity and long-term impact across the state. Geoffrey Landward: Utah’s public colleges are investing in partnerships with business and industry to better prepare students for today’s workforce. Together, we’re aligning degrees and certificates with the most in-demand skills, making sure programs stay relevant, responsive and driven by results. Through Talent Ready Utah, our system is connecting high school students to apprenticeships where they can earn and learn on the job. And, recently, Mountainland Technical College launched Utah’s first Civil Construction program in partnership with Clyde Companies, preparing students in just four months for infrastructure careers. These are just two examples of how hands-on experiences are helping Utah students gain practical skills and enter the workforce faster — leading to higher wages, stronger communities and continued innovation across industries. The…

People in this episode

Host: Derek Miller

Guest: Geoffrey Landward

Topics covered

  • higher education
  • workforce alignment
  • student opportunities
  • apprenticeships
  • career preparation
  • economic impact

Keywords

  • higher education
  • workforce development
  • apprenticeships
  • student success
  • economic growth

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Utah System of Higher Education, Mountainland Technical College, Clyde Companies, Talent Ready Utah

Places: Utah

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