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Through Stategic Partnerships, Purdue’s University’s Online Programs Help Organizations Prepare for the Future

Experts predict that in the future economy, upskilling and reskilling will be the primary means by which professionals stay on top of market demands and keep themselves employable. But, according to Forbes, the future economy is already here – emergent technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) have already changed the job market, creating unprecedented demand for new skills. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, technology will transform 1.1 billion jobs over the next decade, and the time to prepare for that transformation is now.  

Strategic partnerships between employers and universities are one way of ensuring that today’s workforce is prepared for the jobs of tomorrow. Partnerships can support universities in building strong talent pipelines for employers, exposing students to relevant career pathways and experiences and developing programs that match the career skills employers are looking for.  

Purdue University’s online programs provide many opportunities for corporate and strategic partnerships that benefit students and organizations alike. These partnerships, which are available to a wide range of organizations including the government, military, private corporations and nonprofits, focus on four core tenants: real-world application; a team to conquer the future; improving employee performance; and professional, scalable learning. Put together, these tenants offer organizations a pathway to upskilling and reskilling their workforce, and give students access to the skills they need to succeed in a changing job market.  

Real-World Application: Meeting Partners Where They Are 

Purdue is an expert in bringing practical applications to the virtual classroom. As technologies like AI transform thousands of industries, Purdue has responded by building innovative online programs like its Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and battery of AI microcredentials. These programs offer working professionals – and the partners that employ them – multiple ways to prepare themselves for the future. 

“We want to be a solutions provider for our strategic partners,” said Victory Soe, assistant director of partnerships for Purdue University’s online programs. “We work with companies to find the program or programs that fits their needs, and the needs of their employees.” 

One of the ways Purdue helps meet partners where they’re at is by offering online programs that fit into many different kinds of schedules. From fully asynchronous master’s degrees to accelerated graduate certificates and even quicker microcredentials and badges such as the online Data Science Series, Purdue has online program options that fit corporate timetables and budgets. 

“Purdue has established itself as ahead of the game in badges and microcredentials,” Soe said. “These programs are useful for our partners because they provide fast, practical upskilling opportunities at a great value.” 

Building Teams that Can Conquer the Future 

Emergent technologies like AI and big data are not just influencing the tech sector; they are also influencing business, education, healthcare and more. Purdue understands that professionals in a wide range of industries must be fluent in the principles of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to conquer the problems of the future, so the university integrates in-demand tech training into a wide range of disciplines. For strategic partners, Purdue’s STEM-focused curriculum provides crucial support for transforming their industries from within. 

“Our strength in STEM is really important to our partnerships,” said Searsha Gebhart, assistant director of business development for Purdue University’s online programs. “We can provide specialized training that fits within the needs of many industries while also being responsive to influential trends.” 

Purdue’s innovative online Master of Science in Business and Technology is one such program that can provide specialized technology training to professionals in a variety of different fields by merging business education with emergent technological trends. Other programs, such as the online Master of Science in Data Science, offer value to strategic partners by leveraging interdisciplinary collaborations that teach students how to understand data science from a diversity of perspectives and applications.  

“Interdisciplinary knowledge is also really important at Purdue,” Gebhart said. “And this matches what’s expected of professionals in the field – they have to be able to collaborate beyond silos, across roles and disciplines.” 

Improving Employee Performance Through Hands-On, Specialized Learning 

Purdue’s online program offerings feature a “learn by doing” approach that emphasizes practical skills building. Purdue works with strategic partners to find or develop programs that match the skills they want their employees to learn and fill crucial knowledge gaps. Through completing hands-on coursework, employees also learn valuable problem-solving skills that can help them improve their efficiency and performance. 

Many of Purdue’s online programs include innovative virtual activities where students get the chance to practice new skills in real-time. For example, Purdue’s Device to Fabrication semiconductor course includes a virtual clean room environment where students can see for themselves how semiconductors are made. Similarly, Purdue’s Prompt Engineering course gives students the chance to use various AI tools to improve daily life, work and learning. 

In addition to more in-depth training programs like online master’s degrees, Purdue offers strategic partners over 50 online professional development courses and programs that provide targeted career training on an accelerated timeline. Many of these programs can be specialized to meet the needs of specific organizations, no matter how big or small their employee cohort is. 

“We can provide a specialized experience for organizations that work with us,” Gebhart said. “We’re open to whatever arrangement or idea works best for our organizational partners. If they need a specific skill emphasized, that’s something we can do.” 

Professional, Scalable Learning Opportunities 

When developing online programs, Purdue’s mission is to provide educational opportunities that offer the same quality, training and rigor that the university’s on-campus programs are known for. Whether a professional is completing a full degree program or a career credential, they can expect an immersive learning experience that challenges them to grow. Online students engage in group discussions, team projects, hands-on skill-building and networking opportunities – just like students on campus.  

To help professionals put their training to the test, many of Purdue’s online master’s degrees and graduate certificates culminate in a capstone project that gives students the opportunity to build out a deliverable from the ground-up. For example, in Purdue’s online Master of Health Administration program, students plan out a healthcare facility in full, from deciding on budgets to leasing a space. Projects like these give professionals the tools they need to improve their performance at work and set a strong trajectory for future growth. 

Through centering hands-on learning experiences, Purdue ensures that strategic partners see measurable outcomes for their employees, and the university works with partners to ensure their goals are being met.  

“When we first meet with partners, we ask them about their capacity and need,” said Soe. “It’s not about selling a product; it’s about forming a relationship. What can we offer that considers each organization’s unique constraints and goals? That’s what we want to lead with.”  

To learn more about strategic partnerships at Purdue University, please visit our partnerships webpage