Shortages of highly skilled professionals are one of the most significant challenges for industries across the United States. Many observers believe that government and industry-led training initiatives, access to high-skilled foreign nationals, and robust STEM education programs can and should be part of the solution.

Please join the Wilson Center’s Asia Program and NASSCOM, along with the Wilson Center's Science and Technology Innovation Program, for a discussion on current talent challenges and how best to address them. The event will launch new reports produced by IHS Markit on H-1B visas and the global IT services industry; include expert analysis of the issues that companies are experiencing with the visa program; and feature exploration of industry and government workforce and STEM education initiatives.

Agenda

10 am:

Welcome/Introductory Comments

     Jane Harman

     Director, President, and CEO, The Wilson Center

10:05-10:25 am:

Opening Remarks

     Ambassador Harsh Shringla

     Indian Ambassador to the United States

10:25 -10:45 am:

Session 1: Presentation of IHS research findings

     Karen Campbell

     Associate Director—Economics & Country Risk, IHS Markit

     Michael Kugelman

     Asia Program Deputy Director and Senior Associate for South Asia,

     The Wilson Center (moderator)

10:45-11:15 am:

Session 2: The H-1B Visa Program and Implications for the U.S. Economy

     Stuart Anderson

     Executive Director, National Foundation for American Policy

     Jon Baselice

     Executive Director, Immigration Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

     Spencer Abraham

     Former U.S. Energy Secretary and Senator (moderator)

11:15-11:50 am:

Session 3: Industry and Government Training and STEM Education

     Robin Fernkas

     Acting Deputy Administrator, Office of Workforce Investment,

     Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor

     Kapil Sharma

     Vice President for Government and Public Affairs North America, Wipro

     Elizabeth Newbury

     Director, Serious Games Initiative, Science and Technology

     Innovation Program, The Wilson Center (moderator)

11:50 am-12 pm:

Closing Remarks

     Debjani Ghosh

     President, NASSCOM