📑 Recap: Education as Economic Power Event

Higher education leaders call on industry leaders to help meet growing needs, strengthening economic development across Miami-Dade County.

FEATURED CONTENT:
Watch this video of our recent event with The Academic Leaders Council and The Helios Education Foundation at Miami Dade College.

Education is the engine that drives economic growth in our communities. From early childhood centers to K-12 and higher education, aligning learning pathways with industry needs is essential. In Miami-Dade County, developing and retaining talent is key to prosperity, but it doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Building a future-ready workforce requires bold, intentional collaboration between educators, employers, and community leaders.

That’s where Opportunity Miami’s Academic Leaders Council (ALC) comes in.

A critical piece of this equation is getting industry leaders in the room and connecting with our region’s education institutions early and often. That kind of proactive engagement can be a game-changer.

“Everything points to a knowledge economy,” said Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega, chair of Opportunity Miami’s Academic Leaders Council and host of our most recent convening of regional leaders across sectors. “A global and knowledge economy requires more individuals to upskill, and it requires us to do more partnerships.”

One of the most compelling cases for this collaboration comes from The Helios Education Foundation, which presented powerful data on the return on investment in higher education—specifically for Miami-Dade.

“Everything we do is in partnership and collaboration with others,” said Paul Luna, CEO of Helios. “By ourselves, we have limited to no impact. In partnership with you all, that’s how we can make a difference.”

And what a difference it makes: In Miami-Dade County, boosting college enrollment by just 10% could lead to $875 million in social and economic gains per graduating class, from increased lifetime earnings and tax contributions to reduced reliance on social services. According to Helios, the average Miami-Dade resident with a bachelor’s degree earns nearly double over a lifetime compared to someone with only a high school diploma.

That’s the kind of ROI that fuels not only individuals—but entire communities.

Watch the event here.

Connecting Industry and Education: The ALC Approach

The Academic Leaders Council is a groundbreaking coalition that brings together the presidents of Barry University, Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, Miami Dade College, St. Thomas University, and the University of Miami, alongside Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Together, these institutions are working to align programs with the evolving needs of the local economy.

“We have institutions that work very well with the private sector,” said Rod Miller, CEO of The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, which powers Opportunity Miami. “They’re responsive. So when companies come, it doesn’t matter what they say they need. These folks [ALC] deliver a solution that works for the company—and that’s the real value.”

That value comes from real-time feedback between business leaders and education leaders—feedback that leads to curriculum adjustments, new program development, and internship pipelines that give students direct access to opportunities.

St. Thomas University President David Armstrong underscored this point: “If there is a program that higher education can help you with, I’ll start it. If you’re going to offer internships and scholarships to our students and can lock them in for three years, or five years—call me. We’ll make it happen.”

Interim FIU President Jeanette Nuñez emphasized the need for active engagement: “The onus is on you all in the industry to please communicate with us. Don’t just offer internships—engage. We truly want to be responsive.”

“Tell us what you need in our graduates,” added Barry University President Mike Allen. “And trust us to deliver. Just know how open we are to doing that.”

Florida Memorial University Interim President William C. McCormick highlighted the role industry professionals can play on campus: “If employees can become subject matter experts and interface with students—through lectures or mentorships—that kind of exposure has a tremendous impact.”

The ALC is more than just a council—it’s a reminder that working together is the only way forward. Through deeper industry engagement with our education ecosystem, we can unlock new levels of economic power for our students, our businesses, and the communities we all love and live in.

From early childhood to graduate school, the message is clear: talent is Miami-Dade’s most powerful asset. And when we work together—industry, academia, community—we can unlock its full potential.

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~ Opportunity Miami