On this week’s episode of Illumination by Modern Campus, we look at the traditional structure institutions have been using for decades and how they need to adapt in order to survive and thrive in this rapidly evolving new shift in higher education.
Research universities have been following their traditional model for decades. But tradition needs to give way to innovation when it comes to meeting the needs of modern learners. Program offerings need to be flexible, accessible and aligned with workforce demands to make learners relevant in the job market.
But change isn’t easy, and can be a long road ahead for those who aren’t known to be innovative. So what are some of the common challenges research universities face when adapting to meet these new economic needs?
Tradition doesn’t mean no one wants to change. In fact, the pandemic has awakened many staff and faculty to look at new innovative ways to deliver programming, particularly in the digital space. But this is new territory for faculty with traditional backgrounds–the digital world can be intimidating when it comes to online delivery. So what are some of the common challenges traditional faculty face when building professional and online education themselves?
On the other side of the institution, Professional and Continuing Education (PCE) divisions have been at the forefront of serving adult learners for decades and have really zeroed in on their craft. This is their job, and no other department understands the needs of non-traditional learners quite like PCE. As more adult learners look to higher education to get back into the workforce, institutions also need to adapt to this new demographic. Enter PCE. In what ways can institutions leverage their PCE divisions to provide career relevant programming with the latest tech tools and resources to the students?
Collaboration and partnerships among divisions at the institution are critical to delivering a seamless experience for both faculty and students. Departments can leverage each other’s insights and experience to improve and scale programs to meet demands. But what are the characteristics to a strong collaborative relationship between PCE divisions and the institution at large?
When the institution is working together as a whole, that’s when the gears start turning and processes are working in sync. Having a deeper insight into the knowledge other departments have, the departmental silos begin to break down as everyone works towards the same goal: serving the learner. So how does the collaborative approach better prepare the institution at large to deliver the experience non-traditional students expect?
Listen to this week’s episode of Illumination by Modern Campus, featuring Tanya Zlateva, to unlock the answers to these questions and discover some best practices to create a more seamless collaboration at your institution.
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