Corporations Partner with Higher Ed to Further Student Careers

Understanding the key trends that influence today’s learners helps higher education leaders better prepare their students for life after university. As the higher education landscape evolves, it is imperative for educators to understand these trends that are redefining education on a global level.

Partnerships between higher education institutions and corporations can help facilitate career connections and link students to more learning opportunities. Colleges and universities have begun working closely with corporations to ensure that students graduate with the necessary skills to succeed in their field. With the skills gap heavily influencing the workforce, enterprise training companies have an incentive to partner with universities and leverage their vast networks to help companies bridge the gap.

With the next academic year on the horizon, more institutions are taking action to connect with corporations to advance their students’ learning, according to a report from FinancesOnline Research Center.

Various HR solutions can be applied to enhance career development, but higher education still serves as the preferred training ground for students. University partnerships and collaboration with different employers provide students and companies with the right programs to match their skills and needs.

For example, a recent partnership between Spalding University and the tech talent accelerator, Skillstorm, aims to bridge the talent gap in Kentucky by making credentialing programs easier to access and more readily available. Through SkillStorm’s platform, members of the Spalding community now have access to a range of courses to prepare for critical certifications. Spalding University recognized the increase in demand for tech skills and the need to cultivate qualified talent and addressed the issue through a partnership SkillStorm.

Similarly, Arizona State University, national nonprofit Education at Work and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona have partnered to connect students with industry jobs. The program enables participating students at ASU to develop essential resume-building skills and experience working on behalf of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona’s Customer Advocacy Team. In addition to acquiring skills and earning hourly wages, participating students can also earn money through employer-paid tuition assistance to help offset the cost of their education.

By working together, higher education institutions and corporations have the power to address the mismatch between employer needs and worker skills. Universities can partner with enterprise training companies to provide students with industry-specific educational programs so that graduates can enter the workforce seamlessly and confidently. 

For more articles on university and corporate partnerships see:

ASU Partnerships Connect More Students with Industry Jobs