Intersection Ideagen
4 Magazine / October 2014
Can you please explain the mission and goals of the Apollo Group?
Oates: The Apollo Group oversees 9 different universities over all continents except Antarctica, most notably the University of Phoenix, but we are much more. The goal is to strengthen the alignment and connection between what employers need and what people are learning. About 90% of our education is delivered online.
What do you think are the most important skills that Schools and Colleges needs to teach in order for future employees to succeed?
Oates: First, they have to teach strong content. No matter what you do, if you’re not delivering students what is newest and what is best, you are not doing your job. There has to alignment between what employers are looking for today, and what’s being taught in the curriculum. The best way in my opinion is the German Model, using apprenticeships. The Swiss are using models that using that, along with two American four-year universities, Northeastern in Boston, and Drexel in Philadelphia, through the co-op model, where while you’re studying, you get to go out and test your skills in the workforce with a real employer, who is giving you a real salary, for real work.
you get to go out and test your skills in the workforce with a real employer, who is giving you a real salary, for real work. Many people get into a job, like accounting or journalism, and realize they don’t like the work. I think giving people that opportunity for real skills. And then I would say employability skills. Few colleges are looking at what are the reasons an employer doesn’t choose you. Is it poor presentation? Is it poor communication skills? I think this is the one that is most lacking across the board.
What do you think employers can do to help future employees adapt to their needs?
Oates: I don’t think the onus is on the students or the university completely. I think the employers have a real responsibility to articulate what the skills are. So many employers say that they know what they need and what they like when they see it. That’s really unfair. The reason the apprenticeship is so successful is because the employers are engaged in the learning process. To go back I would say, employers have to communicate much better across the board. They have to articulate what they want, and then they have to pay for it. During the recession we were scratching our heads thinking why employers are leaving positions open for so long. Employers who are having a difficult time attracting talent, why aren’t they paying more? I think that if young students, especially in the STEM fields, knew that their hard work would pay off in higher salaries, I think that we would see them trying to succeed in harder courses.
How does education have to change in order to make sure that employees and college graduates have the skills employees want? How can cross-sector collaboration facilitate better communication between institutions of learning and employers?
Oates: I think Ideagen is right on the mark. Forcing people in small groups, not groups of 15,000, to work together and get that
Jane Oates:
The Apollo Group'S Vice President of External Affairs on IDeagen Radio&TV