About the Episode
About the Episode: In this insightful episode, Dustin sits down with Dr. Jennifer King from Bisk to explore how institutions can support greater workforce development. Focusing on the evolution and maturation of digital education, they explore how institutions can navigate a continuously changing landscape to better align with workforce needs. Dr. King shares her extensive experience and discusses Bisk’s strategic pivot towards creating more accessible and relevant educational pathways through micro-credentials and skills-based learning.
Key Takeaways
- Skills-Based Learning is the Future: Microcredentials focused on job-specific skills are revolutionizing workforce development.
- Online Learning Enables Accessibility: Flexible, affordable, and asynchronous online courses empower learners to achieve their goals on their terms.
- Universities Must Pivot: Institutions that embrace digital transformation and workforce-aligned programs will thrive, while others risk obsolescence.
- Bisk Amplified Marketplace: A centralized hub connecting corporate learners with educational opportunities from universities and industry experts.
Episode Summary
The Evolving Role of Bisk in Higher Education
Founded in 1971, Bisk Education has been a trailblazer in online learning, helping universities transition to digital education with high-quality degree programs. Today, Bisk is expanding its focus to include workforce development through its latest initiative, Bisk Amplified. This platform connects employees, industry partners, and universities to provide accessible and affordable education tailored to workforce needs.
Bisk remains committed to bridging the gap between academic programs and real-world applications. By aligning degree content with workforce demands, Bisk helps universities create stackable credentials, microcredentials, and certificates that lead directly to jobs and career advancement.
What Are Microcredentials and Why Do They Matter?
Microcredentials represent a significant pivot in the education landscape, offering skills-based learning experiences that meet the demands of today’s job market. Unlike traditional certificates, microcredentials are tailored to specific industry needs, often leading to certifications or job-ready skills.
Dr. King explained how Bisk partners with universities to extract skills from existing degree programs and create microcredentials. These bite-sized learning opportunities can stand alone or stack into larger certificates and degrees, offering learners flexible pathways for both academic and professional growth.
The Importance of Digital Transformation for Universities
Many universities, particularly smaller institutions, face declining enrollments and financial instability. Dr. King emphasized that institutions must adapt by embracing online learning, which offers accessibility, flexibility, and affordability. She described online education as the key to addressing the two biggest barriers for adult learners: time and money.
Bisk’s approach helps universities design programs that align with both academic rigor and industry relevance. This includes asynchronous, self-paced courses that allow learners to balance education with other responsibilities.
Institutions that fail to embrace this shift risk losing relevance in a competitive, skills-driven education market.
The Bisk Amplified Platform: A Marketplace for Lifelong Learning
Bisk Amplified is a game-changing platform that brings together academic institutions, corporate partners, and learners in a single marketplace. Features include:
- Corporate Partnerships: Providing employees with access to discounted, industry-relevant programs.
- Channel Partnerships: Expanding outreach through associations and affiliate organizations.
- Academy Partnerships: Enabling universities to contribute content to the platform and reach a broader audience.
This initiative reflects Bisk’s commitment to lifelong learning, offering scalable solutions to upskill and reskill workers while connecting universities to a global network of learners.
About the Show: The Higher Ed Geek Podcast explores the impact of edtech on the student experience by speaking with diverse leaders from institutions, companies, and nonprofit organizations. Each week we aim to provide an engaging, fun, and relevant dose of professional development that honors the wide range of work happening all across the higher ed ecosystem. Come geek out with us! The Higher Ed Geek Podcast is hosted by Dustin Ramsdell and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.
Connect With Our Host:
Dustin Ramsdell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinramsdell/
https://twitter.com/HigherEd_Geek
About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Geek is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Some of our favorites include Generation AI and I Wanna Work There.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:
Exciting news — Dustin will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.
Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200.
Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!
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