Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) and EdSystems are collaborating on a regional effort to strengthen the talent pipeline in health sciences, manufacturing, and engineering. Through the Southwestern Illinois College Regional Pathways Initiative, SWIC and its partners are working to ensure that students, particularly those in rural communities with limited access to specialized coursework, have clear, supported pathways from high school to high-demand careers.
By focusing on these critical sectors, the initiative expands opportunities for students to access high-quality college and career pathways, early college courses, and hands-on learning experiences that lead directly to in-demand jobs. The goal is to help more young people enter the workforce with the skills, credentials, and experience needed to succeed in the trades and health fields that drive the region’s economy.
Regional Pathway Framework: Aligning High Schools and SWIC
In 2025, EdSystems partnered with SWIC to design a unified, regionwide college and career pathway system aligned with Illinois’ College and Career Pathway Endorsement framework, Perkins V, and the State of Illinois Model Programs of Study Guides. Instead of each district building pathways independently, this regional approach brings together high schools, community college faculty, and local employers to create shared structures that reflect real workforce needs and rural access challenges.
To build the framework, the team first analyzed federal Department of Labor data, Illinois Department of Employment Security data, and regional workforce trends to identify high-skill, locally in-demand occupations in health sciences and manufacturing. These priority occupations guided a review of SWIC’s certificate and degree programs to identify promising credentials, i.e., those that offer strong labor market value and clear next steps for students entering the selected industry sectors.
From there, SWIC and school district partners identified strategic early college courses that provide essential foundational knowledge and can be delivered effectively across all districts. These courses serve as door openers, giving students access to a broader range of advanced programs, training opportunities, and career pathways.
Bringing all of this work together, EdSystems and SWIC developed ideal programs of study sequences that integrate general education, career and technical education (CTE) coursework, early college, transitional instruction, and work-based learning. These regional maps provide schools with a model they can implement or adapt, supporting more consistent college and career pathways and clearer next steps for students across the region.
View the regional pathway maps and recommendations
In our report, "Preparing Students for College and Careers: Recommendations for Scaling College and Career Pathways in Southwestern Illinois," we outline our process and share key recommendations, including pathway maps for:
- Health Sciences: Allied Health
- Health Sciences: Guided Transfer
- Health Sciences: Nursing
- Engineering: Guided Transfer
- Manufacturing: CAD
- Manufacturing: Industrial Technology Specialist
- Manufacturing: Machining
- Manufacturing: Welding
Work-Based Learning Inventory: Scaling Opportunities
In early October, the Innovation team spent two insightful days connecting with employers and school partners from across the Southwestern Illinois region. Through roundtable discussions, participants shared their passion and expertise, highlighting what’s working well to provide students with high-quality work-based learning opportunities. Just as importantly, these discussions highlighted areas where regional approaches can be strengthened to create more impactful experiences for students. We collaborated to develop a comprehensive work-based learning inventory that encompasses both local and regional health sciences and manufacturing activities.
What we found are opportunities ranging from immersive programs such as cadaver labs and job shadowing at hospitals to co-op placements spanning the state’s work-based learning continuum. Regional events such as SWIC’s Manufacturing Day and Health Sciences Day connect students directly with industry professionals, while tools like Xello and IL CIS360 support personalized career planning. We found there is a desire to address educator shortages in technical fields, a challenge that education is facing beyond the region.
Based on our gap analysis and input from stakeholders, we recommend that the region increase career awareness of opportunities across districts, expand employer partnerships, and expose career pathways earlier in a student’s educational journey. By aligning schools, employers, and SWIC as a regional convener, the strategy aims to ensure students graduate with real-world skills and clear routes to high-demand careers through strategic pathway mapping and intentional work-based learning opportunities.
View the work-based learning inventory report and dashboard
In "Taking Back the Trades: Southwestern Illinois Work-Based Learning Inventory Report," we identify the existing regional events and activities that promote high-quality work-based learning for college and career pathways in the health sciences and manufacturing sectors. Additionally, EdSystems created a dashboard to display the geographic disbursement of work-based learning.
Looking Ahead
The Southwestern Illinois College Regional Pathways Initiative is building a stronger, more connected education-to-workforce pipeline across the region. By coordinating efforts across high schools, SWIC, and local employers, the initiative supports the expansion and scaling of hands-on learning opportunities, connecting more students to meaningful careers in the trades and other high-demand fields across southwestern Illinois.
