According to an article by Bloomberg, higher education in the U.S. is in the midst of a relevance crisis. Facing skepticism from students and policymakers alike about cost and misalignment with workforce readiness needs, most colleges and universities are struggling to keep up with the pace of change. That’s even more challenging in a world where technology is advancing more rapidly than ever before and university curricula continue to fall further behind.
But against this backdrop of rising costs and questionable alignment with the needs of the labor market, not all higher ed institutions are stuck in first gear. A growing number of forward-thinking universities recognize that the best way to stay relevant — and to meet the needs of a fast-changing economy — is not to go it alone.
From California to Iowa to Florida, colleges and universities are starting to explore a new model of partnership, joining forces with business leaders and tech training providers to help current students, alumni and their regional workforce access training in the skills (e.g., cloud computing, cybersecurity, data analytics) that today’s employers need. The result is a higher education experience that’s not just more job-relevant for students, but also deepens the connection between higher education institutions and employers to boost their local economies.
For example, IBM recently added 45 new partnerships with educational institutions including Vanderbilt University to increase access to training in cybersecurity, data analysis and cloud computing. Google partnered with the University of Texas and Texas State University systems to offer Google Career Certificates, which now help equip students with the skills needed to succeed in the high-skill, high-wage tech jobs of both today and tomorrow. SkillStorm has also focused on expanding partnerships with higher education institutions, collaborating with institutions from Louisiana State University to Cal State Fullerton to offer students courses that lead to industry-recognized credentials — and enable local businesses to tap into new pipelines of talent for the tech jobs that they’re struggling to fill. This new model of collaboration is a win-win for all parties involved: higher education institutions, businesses and learners alike.
It’s a no-brainer for higher ed to offer more alternative and non-degree credentialing options — but historically, the issue has been one of feasibility rather than interest. Aside from master of business administration (MBA) and other professional degree programs, colleges and universities often miss out on the growing market for post-college and workforce professional learning because the cycle of creating new courses lags behind advances in technology. For colleges and universities, partnering with industry or other outside providers enables them to keep up with the pace of change. It also augments their value proposition for students: Wouldn’t you prefer to study at a school that you knew was offering courses in the latest technology skills?
For businesses, the value proposition is just as clear. At a time when workers have increasing power in the labor market, employers are looking for new strategies to upskill their existing workforce, tap into new pools of talent and ensure that they’re future-proofed today for the jobs of tomorrow. Partnering with higher education lets them do all three. If their local university is offering courses that teach the skills they need, they’ve got access to an entirely new group of early-career talent who otherwise would’ve needed to pursue training opportunities outside of college. Companies can also send their own workers “back to school,” partnering with higher education institutions to provide credentialing programs for workers without entirely stepping away from the job. The result of this collaboration is that businesses have an easily accessible resource to keep their workers’ skills fresh, with the potential to boost employee retention in the process.
Workers also seek to level up their skills in pursuit of higher salaries and accelerating their career opportunities. But that’s not always easy to do, particularly if neither their job nor their college offers training in the skills they actually need. Perhaps the most valuable aspect of this emerging partnership model is that it removes barriers for learners and workers who too often struggle to access paths to economic mobility. The more roadblocks that businesses and colleges can knock down, the more they’ll be able to create opportunities for a broader pool of workers — and, in so doing, drive economic growth in their communities.
This new focus on upskilling and credentialing is also more inclusive to non-traditional students, who’ve become higher education’s “new majority.” So many people, from working adults to parents to veterans would love to seize opportunities for lifelong learning; however, a lack of affordable low-commitment, short-term learning options can make this dream difficult to attain. Post-secondary institutions have to start recognizing students as “earners and learners for life” and create job-oriented educational pathways that help make that dream a reality.
The revival of higher education must evolve in response to changing times. By embracing short-term upskilling and industry-recognized credentials, universities can reposition themselves as dynamic education hubs. This approach injects innovation into traditional higher education programs, addressing the skepticism surrounding cost and efficacy that’s leading more students and families away from enrollment in college. Collaborative partnerships between education providers, businesses and training providers redefine the role of universities, making them pivotal players in building a workforce that thrives even amid economic flux.
