If your institution isn’t planning for the future, your students may run the risk of falling behind. They need marketable credentials and skills that won’t be outdated in a year or two. How can your institution adapt its online programs to shifting workforce demands?
Consider:
- A strategic mix of majors that prepare students for expanding and emerging fields
- Timely, interactive and engaging course content
- Short-term offerings that deliver immediate, practical skills
Let’s dig a little deeper into these strategies and a few other ways to ensure your students are prepared for the workforce of today and tomorrow.
Focus on Expanding and Emerging Fields
Which fields are on the rise? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LinkedIn, Forbes, and the World Economic Forum have some answers. While technology will play a central role, the future workforce won’t be defined by automation and AI alone through the early 2030s.
With an aging population and other factors, healthcare will remain a top priority—46% growth for nurse practitioners, for example—though technology is part of that picture. Focus on the environment is also creating jobs: Environmental engineers will see faster than average growth. Your online programs should reflect these shifting landscapes.
Consider dedicated degrees in:
- Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Machine learning (ML)
- Data science
- Data analytics
- Cybersecurity
- Software development
- Environmental engineering
- Healthcare (nursing, NP and PA programs, mental health counseling)
Update Your Existing Curriculum
Undergrads may still have a few years until graduation. Will the knowledge and skills you’re teaching them remain relevant by the time they cross the stage? As you review your online curriculum, make sure you’re aware of workplace trends and the factors shaping them in diverse areas like:
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Medicine
- Environment
Integrate any key trends into applicable majors to keep your courses timely, relevant, and beneficial.
Offer “Quick” Credential Options
Many professionals just want to pick up some quick skills and credentials, especially if they lack the time or funds for a degree. Some students are simply “degreed out.” Others want a degree but expect something to show for it sooner. Your online programs should accommodate these diverse needs.
Here are some suggestions:
- Develop certificate programs (as few as 9 credits) out of your existing degrees, allowing completion within one semester.
- Align course content with microcredentials from respected names like Apple, Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Salesforce. Students can often complete a microcredential in one course.
- Issue digital badges that students can display on LinkedIn and online portfolios to show skills they’ve mastered.
- Offer stackable credentials for students who may want to come back for a degree later.
Consult and Collaborate With Industry Leaders
If you want to know the skills and training that industry leaders are looking for, it’s best to go straight to the source. What kind of courses would be beneficial to major industries? What skills are their job applicants missing? Reach out to industry leaders and get answers by:
- Conducting executive surveys
- Holding focus groups
- Forming advisory boards
Use this informed analysis to develop online programs and courses directly from their feedback. You may even consider creating programs exclusively for a specific client’s workforce. This relationship can yield internship and job opportunities for your students.
Emphasize Upskilling and Reskilling
What about prospective students who’ve been in their career five years? Ten? Upskilling will always be an essential part of fulfilling a dynamic job market. Do your programs address this need?
Lifelong learning programs—including those for personal enrichment—also advance careers. Consider:
- Which skills are most in-demand in the workplace today?
- What’s the most effective format to deliver these quickly?
Certificates, with their low cost and short duration, are particularly attractive to employers and employees alike.
And remember: Some people learn new skills for their current career, but some need new skills for new careers. Reskilling is more common as technology reduces the need for certain skills. You must appeal to these audiences clearly through your programs and marketing.
Enhance the Online Class Experience
No matter the subject, courses need to be interactive and immersive. This is as true for an undergraduate history course as it is for a graduate medical sciences course. Students don’t want to just read textbooks or watch talking heads. They want to experience subjects and engage with the material.
Interactive courses are more efficient, engaging, and connected to real-world experience, leading to:
- Faster learning
- Greater retention
- Increased relevance to real-world professional tasks
Gamification, virtual reality, simulations, virtual laboratories, and AI-driven personalized learning all contribute to this revolutionary learning environment. These tools make a more authentic online learning experience for students who can’t visit historical sites and may never set foot in a lab.
Frequently Asked Questions
What majors should my institution focus on?
Your online programs should align with fields where demand for skilled professionals is increasing, such as: AI, machine learning, data science, data analytics, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and healthcare, including mental health.
How can I adapt my existing curriculum to benefit students?
Make sure that your courses are providing relevant knowledge and up-to-date career skills. Applicable classes should reflect current and emerging trends in STEM, medicine, and the environment.
What types of online programs should my institution offer?
Ideally, offer a mix of programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees. Make sure you also have certificates and microcredentials available, as some students may want to add skills and credentials quickly and affordably.
Online programs should be engaging and personalized, using gamification, simulations, virtual labs, and AI-driven adaptive learning. These interactive elements can be more valuable in the workplace than some traditional learning methods.
Are there specific student populations we need to consider?
Yes. As workforce demands change, professionals increasingly need to upskill. Many will be looking for short-term programs. More drastic changes may require people to reskill, potentially taking on a new career direction. Your program marketing and curriculum should speak to these needs.
Reach Out to an Experienced Partner
Knowing today’s and tomorrow’s trends will ensure your students are ready for the workforce. Apollidon Learning has the resources to guide you. As experts in precision growth marketing and student engagement—including data analysis, targeted marketing, student support, and front and backend development—we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Let’s discuss what we can do for your institution. Request a consultation today.