{"id":6193,"date":"2025-01-24T19:44:06","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T19:44:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/?p=6193"},"modified":"2025-07-14T17:18:38","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T17:18:38","slug":"through-stategic-partnerships-purdues-universitys-online-programs-help-organizations-prepare-for-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/through-stategic-partnerships-purdues-universitys-online-programs-help-organizations-prepare-for-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Through strategic partnerships, Purdue University\u2019s online programs help organizations prepare for the future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Experts predict that in the future economy, upskilling and reskilling<\/a> will be the primary means by which professionals stay on top of market demands and keep themselves employable. But, according to Forbes<\/a>, the future economy is already here \u2013 emergent technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) have already changed the job market, creating unprecedented demand for new skills. According to the World Economic Forum<\/a>, technology will transform 1.1 billion jobs over the next decade, and the time to prepare for that transformation is now.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strategic partnerships<\/a> between employers and universities are one way of ensuring that today\u2019s 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purdue University\u2019s online programs provide many opportunities for corporate and strategic partnerships<\/a> 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 tenets: real-world application; a team to conquer the future; improving employee performance; and professional, scalable learning. Put together, these tenets 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Real-World Application: Meeting Partners Where They Are <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> and battery of AI microcredentials.<\/a> These programs offer working professionals \u2013 and the partners that employ them \u2013 multiple ways to prepare themselves for the future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe want to be a solutions provider for our strategic partners,\u201d said Victory Soe, assistant director of partnerships for Purdue University\u2019s online programs. \u201cWe work with companies to find the program or programs that fits their needs, and the needs of their employees.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the ways Purdue helps meet partners where they\u2019re at is by offering online programs that fit into many different kinds of schedules. From fully asynchronous master\u2019s degrees to accelerated graduate certificates and even quicker micro–<\/s>credentials and badges such as the online Data Science Series<\/a>, Purdue has online program options that fit corporate timetables and budgets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPurdue has established itself as ahead of the game in badges and microcredentials,\u201d Soe said. \u201cThese programs are useful for our partners because they provide fast, practical upskilling opportunities at a great value.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Teams that Can Conquer the Future <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s STEM-focused curriculum provides crucial support for transforming their industries from within. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur strength in STEM is really important to our partnerships,\u201d said Searsha Gebhart, assistant director of business development for Purdue University\u2019s online programs. \u201cWe can provide specialized training that fits within the needs of many industries while also being responsive to influential trends.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purdue\u2019s innovative online Master of Science in Business and Technology<\/a> 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<\/a>, offer value to strategic partners by leveraging interdisciplinary collaborations that teach students how to understand data science from a diversity of perspectives and applications.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cInterdisciplinary knowledge is also really important at Purdue,\u201d Gebhart said. \u201cAnd this matches what\u2019s expected of professionals in the field \u2013 they have to be able to collaborate beyond silos, across roles and disciplines.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improving Employee Performance Through Hands-On, Specialized Learning <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Purdue\u2019s online program offerings feature a \u201clearn by doing\u201d 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of Purdue\u2019s online programs include innovative virtual activities where students get the chance to practice new skills in real-time. For example, Purdue\u2019s Device to Fabrication<\/a> semiconductor course includes a virtual clean room environment where students can see for themselves how semiconductors are made. Similarly, Purdue\u2019s Prompt Engineering<\/a> course gives students the chance to use various AI tools to improve daily life, work and learning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to more in-depth training programs like online master\u2019s degrees, Purdue offers strategic partners over 50 online professional development<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can provide a specialized experience for organizations that work with us,\u201d Gebhart said. \u201cWe\u2019re open to whatever arrangement or idea works best for our organizational partners. If they need a specific skill emphasized, that\u2019s something we can do.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professional, Scalable Learning Opportunities <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When developing online programs, Purdue\u2019s mission is to provide educational opportunities that offer the same quality, training and rigor that the university\u2019s 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 \u2013 just like students on campus.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help professionals put their training to the test, many of Purdue\u2019s online master\u2019s 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\u2019s online Master of Health Administration<\/a> program, students plan out a healthcare facility<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we first meet with partners, we ask them about their capacity and need,\u201d said Soe. \u201cIt\u2019s not about selling a product; it\u2019s about forming a relationship. What can we offer that considers each organization\u2019s unique constraints and goals? That\u2019s what we want to lead with.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about strategic partnerships at Purdue University, please visit our partnerships webpage<\/a>. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 \u2013 emergent technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) have already changed the job market, creating unprecedented demand for new skills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":1880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[69],"tags":[],"area-of-study":[],"person":[73,75,74],"class_list":["post-6193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-partnerships","person-alumni","person-faculty-staff","person-students"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/09_2022_PMU.jpg",1800,1200,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/09_2022_PMU.jpg",1800,1200,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/09_2022_PMU.jpg",1800,1200,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/09_2022_PMU-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/09_2022_PMU-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/09_2022_PMU-1024x683.jpg",1024,683,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/09_2022_PMU-1536x1024.jpg",1536,1024,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/09_2022_PMU.jpg",1800,1200,false],"rt_custom":["https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/09_2022_PMU.jpg",1800,1200,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"RM Barton","author_link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/author\/barton53\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Partnerships<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"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 \u2013 emergent technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) have already changed the job market, creating unprecedented demand for…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6193"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7747,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6193\/revisions\/7747"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6193"},{"taxonomy":"area-of-study","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area-of-study?post=6193"},{"taxonomy":"person","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/online\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/person?post=6193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}