How to Build University Prestige with Professional Programs
July 28, 2021
There is one simple way to build your university's prestige – offer professional programs. Professional programs offered online to your alumni market and the underserved professional market are a guaranteed way to add value to your university. Top US University Presidents agree that professional programs are the future and that universities must support the population along their lifelong learning journey, not just along the traditional learning path. University of Miami President, Julio Frenk, said that higher education institutions "can no longer sustain the model where we front-load educational content and competencies." Universities must become "providers of educational services throughout the entire career cycle of people, not just before people join the labor market but during and even after" [1].
The skills gap is vast and continuously widening. According to a PWC survey, 79% of CEOs are concerned about employees' lack of essential skills [2], and only 26% of US graduates are confident that they learned skills that are relevant to their careers [3]. Based on these statistics, it is clear that employees and employers see a need for upskilling. There is a disconnect between the current skills of the labor force and the desired skills. This problem extends around the globe. Research from the World Economic Forum projects that 54% of employees, globally, will need reskilling and upskilling by 2022 to perform new responsibilities driven by automation and new technologies [4].
Earn the title of an institution of distinction by offering micro-course programs on in-demand topics that professionals need right now. Professionals need these offerings to advance in their careers and support transforming industries. The demand for professional programs is high. The supply is low. The fact that this large demographic of professionals needing upskilling is underserved provides an opportunity for universities.
If your university acts fast to build its reputation in the professional development space, it can establish itself as a prestigious entity on the cutting edge of educational developments. 100% of the Top 50 US Universities, including Princeton, Harvard, Columbia, MIT, and Yale, have already identified this trend, and launched professional programs [5]. Stay competitive and claim your share of the alumni market, which happens to be 20x the size of undergraduate markets [6].
Investing in the development of world-class professional education courses on cutting-edge topics is the way to the top. Differentiate your university by offering courses that not only have fresh, relevant content but go a step further by using AI technology to keep them current, up-to-the-moment. Using a smart platform built on AI technology and advanced data analytics, your learners will complete their certifications with the most advanced knowledge available in the industry. As a result, your university will become known as the authority on advancing fields. With this reputation, enrollment levels will rise as your reputation as an industry-leading educational institution precedes you. As this methodology builds your prestige, increased levels of revenue will follow.
Wayne State University Dean, Farshad Fotouhi, partnered with Amesite to build professional programs that build prestige for WSU. Together we developed cutting-edge courses designed to upskill the workforce of the future. Fotouhi said, "In working with Amesite, we have access to the best technology with a partner that we trust. They customized to our needs and to our market. And helped us deliver in a way that supports the professionals who are transforming in the field of mobility."
How Can Your University Launch Professional Programs to Build Prestige Easily and Quickly?
Launching professional programs can seem like a daunting task; however, it is made simple by partnering with an online learning platform and content creation provider. Prestige can be built by offering professionals valuable educational offerings. Providing this demographic with the educational opportunities that they cannot receive elsewhere is paramount.
Professionals need to upskill and reskill to advance in their careers, and they need the most advanced educational opportunities available. This is why partnering with a company that has an infrastructure built with AI and advanced data analytics is a game-changer. Swift and easy updates to courses can be made with no downtime, and your learners can stay at the forefront of their industries. This value will create prestige for your university and form the reputation you deserve.
Key elements that an online learning platform and micro-course professional program must have to attract and meet the needs of professionals are:
Engaging and easy to use custom branded platforms that attract new learners, build community, and brand awareness, influencing repeat business
Efficiency in all systems using AI and advanced technology
Easily scalable and globally accessible
Flexible, hyper-focused micro-courses with custom, relevant, and expertly curated content for professionals
Turnkey systems capable of immediate implementation with no learning curve
Universities that launch professional programs will increase their institution's prestige by staying at the forefront of innovation.
Amesite Offers a Single, Easy to Use, Scalable Solution
Launch an online learning platform to build reputation and prestige by leveraging world-class content and desirable course formats for busy professionals.
Amesite is a high-tech AI-enabled online learning platform that creates custom-branded Community Learning Environments. Amesite also offers the creation of turnkey intuitive micro-courses that require no training to use. Amesite has an outstanding and industry-leading 98% retention rate across its educational programs.
Amesite's platform is built on AI technology, advanced data analytic tools, and machine learning algorithms. This technological infrastructure allows courses to be flexible and customizable to each learner and stay factually up to date and relevant along the professional's learning journey. It also provides powerful insights to the university and the learners about how they learn in order to improve their experience.
Partner with Amesite to build the prestige of your institution while providing professionals with excellent resources for education and upskilling. A host of self-paced, highly engaging, and intuitive courses can be ready for your learners in as little as 30 days.
Amesite's smart, intuitive Community Learning Environments help universities thrive. Request a Demo!
Check out some of our customer success stories and learn how Amesite helped Wayne State University build prestige and deliver fully online, on-demand, and engaging learning experiences that support the professionals who are transforming the field of mobility in digital technologies of the future.
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