NASPO partnered with Arizona State University's Department of Supply Chain Management to host the inaugural Academic Forum, March 19-21, 2017. In an effort to address one of NASPO's Top Ten Priorities, staffing and talent management strategies, NASPO is working with our academic partners to discuss how to best develop the current and up-and-coming state procurement workforce.

The Academic Forum brought together state procurement professionals, academic partners and students to discuss challenges in the attraction and retention of qualified talent in state procurement. Sessions included panels featuring the student perspective of what the future workforce is looking for in an employer, ideas for setting up internship programs and a discussion on developing academic programs in public and non-profit procurement, among others. A summary document of the key takeaways and links to resources will be available in the coming weeks.