HIGHER EDUCATION
HIGHER EDUCATION
Universities and Colleges Engage the Community
Compiled by Jamie Grill-Goodman
With students back in school , higher education institutions are an integral part of New Jersey and the communities they serve . How schools partner with their local communities and companies is important – not only to enrolled students , but to businesses and their employees .
Continuing education for working professionals , tackling the teacher shortage , meeting learners where they work and live , internships , and collaborating with industry leaders , are just a few topics that came up when COMMERCE Magazine talked to leaders in New Jersey ’ s higher education community . We asked , “ How are you fostering partnerships with local communities and industries to enhance educational and research opportunities in the new school year ,” and this is what we learned :
Berkeley College Diane Recinos , EdD President
Berkeley College believes education is the key to company growth and retention . The College specializes in continuing education for working professionals through its Corporate Learning Partnership program . Offered at no cost to members , Corporate Learning Partnerships provide a one-stop solution for employee training and career development , helping businesses grow their internal pipelines .
Corporate Learning Partners benefit from an up-to 30 % tuition reduction for employees and their immediate families , as well as gain access to exclusive programming such as masterclasses and free virtual certifications .
Berkeley College currently partners with more than 175 companies of various sizes and industries , offering customized courses and training to meet each organization ’ s educational goals . A prime example is our partnership with Saint Michael ’ s Medical Center , an acute care hospital in Newark , NJ , which has invested in the professional development of its employees , who can enroll in our School of Health Studies through the Corporate Learning Partnership .
In keeping with Berkeley College ’ s mission to empower each student to achieve lifelong success , relationships with local companies also benefit our current students and graduates who can serve as interns or help fill open positions .
Separate from our Corporate Learning Partnership program , Berkeley College offers shortterm Continuing Education certificates and courses that can meet the needs of professionals seeking to advance in their careers or looking to enter a new field . Current workforce trends reinforce that reskilling in areas such as leadership ; diversity , equity and inclusion ; and artificial intelligence are critical to keep employees engaged .
Fairleigh Dickinson University Michael Avaltroni President
We are seeking to return Fairleigh Dickinson University ( FDU ) to its roots as a premier provider of educational opportunities , including degrees , certifications , continuing education , professional development , pre-college and lifelong-learning programs throughout the communities of New Jersey .
We are focused on truly meeting learners where they are , providing opportunities to build learning communities that integrate the best of hybrid-flexible learning , utilizing online and in-person engagement immersed within the communities where learners live and work .
In particular , FDU is seeking to introduce flexible , low-residency programs delivered on location to students where they can achieve the desired balance of flexibility and community across their learning journey . The long-term goal is to build a comprehensive network of sites and offerings across the state that ‘ travel ’ from place to place to link to cohorts of students seeking those offerings . The sites will include two-year institutions ( with bridge programs to FDU campuses , degree completion on site at the two-year college or a mix of both ), corporate settings ( such as those we have established at Merck and Novartis ) and community hubs ( such as the flagship we are creating at Bell Works in Holmdel ).
New Jersey Institute of Technology ( NJIT ) Teik C . Lim President
The focus of NJIT ’ s new strategic plan is to enhance our status as the greatest producer of technological talent and knowledge in New Jersey by enabling us to become a nexus of innovation – a physical and intellectual focal point for innovative ideas , actions , and people . One critical component of that is our development of a strong research , innovation , and technology entrepreneurship ecosystem with external partners that include industry , academia , community , and government entities .
NJIT ’ s new Center for Translational Research ( CTR ) is currently funding 18 Technology Innovation Translation Acceleration ( TITA ) and Col‐
Berkeley College currently partners with more than 175 companies of various sizes and industries , offering customized courses and training . Continued on page 14
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