PHOENIX–(BUSINESS WIRE) – The University of Phoenix is attending the SHRM Conference, West Hall, Booth # 12063, highlighting a strategic collaboration with Emsi, a leading provider of labor market research, that is changing the way we think about higher education and its connections to careers. The University of Phoenix is focused on providing “competency-based learning” to graduates and actively uses workplace data and insights to link program coursework to the types of skills employers indicate they are looking for.
“Understanding students how their learning relates to the desired skills of the employees is the new frontier in higher education,” said Bob Hieronymus, Vice President of Partnerships at Emsi. “The University of Phoenix was one of the first universities to use Emsi data in 2015 at an early stage in the program development process. This type of ‘qualification’ of the curriculum will change the university landscape. ”
By pulling data from government job sources and real-time job postings, Emsi creates algorithms to analyze the job market and identify skills currently in demand. The University of Phoenix uses this research and data to map in-demand skills onto curricula and programs. This conscious approach keeps the University of Phoenix programs and courses designed to bridge the gap between what you learn in the classroom and what you talk about in career conversations.
“Adult students want to know if what they have learned is useful and how it fits in with their career goals,” said Ruth Veloria, chief strategy and customer officer for the University of Phoenix. “Our collaboration with Emsi will help our graduates to become more professional and to demonstrate their newly acquired skills. We want our students to feel empowered with the knowledge that they have the skills they need to seize opportunities in their chosen fields. ”
The collaboration with Emsi complements the University of Phoenix’s already established infrastructure, which supports embedding skills in curriculum outcomes. By using labor market data to determine the skills employers are looking for, as well as the expertise and advice of real-world teachers, the University of Phoenix seeks to convert educational outcomes into professional skills.
“The future of higher education will be built on the innovative use of data,” added Veloria. “Providing competency outcomes data for courses and programs is like checking a nutrition label before you eat a meal. Students now have a direct view of the skills they will build and provide transparency about their academic experience. ”
An example of how competencies are linked with the curriculum can be found in the university’s Leading Change course in the MBA program. Research and data show that business people need to understand how to build a healthy and effective corporate culture. Assessing corporate cultures is a skill that is traced back to the course. Tasks include evaluating an organization’s culture and performance and creating a change management plan using these insights to implement changes. Students can use this plan to show their employer or potential employer that they can lead change by understanding the company culture.
Two of the University of Phoenix’s most popular programs, the Master of Business Administration and the competency-based Master of Business Administration, are currently fully mapped to skills, while other programs and related coursework will be mapped to skills this year.
In addition to skill mapping in various degree programs, the University of Phoenix is also committed to helping active students and graduates throughout their careers with career services such as coaching and networking as part of its new Career Services for Life ™ commitment. To learn more or explore career options with an interest assessment tool, please visit: www.phoenix.edu/career-services.html.
The University of Phoenix offers associate graduate programs, as well as certificate programs, professional development, and bespoke courses that help professionals stay ahead of job trends and improve their careers. To learn more about the diverse range of programs the university offers, visit http://www.phoenix.edu/programs/degree-programs.html. To learn more about the university’s workforce solutions, visit www.phoenix.edu/workforce-solutions.html.
About the University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults improve their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, and interactive learning help students more effectively pursue their professional and personal goals while balancing their busy lives. Visit phoenix.edu for more information.
About Emsi
We are a labor market data company headquartered in Moscow, Idaho with offices in the US and UK. We serve clients in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Our great clients use Emsi data to solve a wide variety of problems in the fields of business development, job development, commercial real estate, higher education and talent acquisition.
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