Intersection Ideagen
5 Magazine / October 2014
common vocabulary. One problem is that when employers and educators communicate, they use words that mean vastly different things. Timeliness, for instance. An on-time for degree for an institution is 150% of the time needed for that degree, and employers don’t have that kind of time. The employer needs them this business cycle. I really think that our institutions have to get more on the mark with offering courses on time. I hear young people complain all the time about only needing two courses to graduate but they aren’t being offered this semester so they have to spend another semester. That should never happen. There should be really good course advisory so that they can graduate on time, or early. And we should structure financial aid for those students who take more rigorous, but achievable courses.
Why do you think cross-sector collaboration is important in your area or work? How can it be used to address today`s most pressing issues?
Oates: I think that if you are look at any real world problem there are many talents that come to the table for solutions. If you’ve never been educated to think in a cross-dimensional way, you won’t be able to solve anything. For example, there are non-profits who only talk to funders, and that can’t happen. Ideagen brings everyone together. And these summits create an ‘Ah-ha’ moment. These are proof to me that in order to best solve these problems, we need different people coming from different corners willing to learn from each other.
I would like to direct a question at environmental sustainability. How does Apollo incorporate philanthropy and sustainability into its education?
Oates: The Apollo Group is very aware of sustainability. There is a constant flow of new workers within our organization. Philanthropically, we support well-know groups and we support them well through checks and volunteers. Some groups include Good Will and Boys and Girls Club. I think
these groups are amazing in the United States and the entire world. One of the major things that we are working on is women. We are strong participants in the STEM connector activity a Million Women Mentors, which is a movement to get a million women mentors in STEM careers. Making sure that young women, and men, are making choices inspired by their aspirations rather than just what is the norm is very big for us.
Jane's Three Key Lessons to Change the World:
For more information about the Apollo Education Group, please visit:
Jane Oates:
The Apollo Group'S Vice President of External Affairs on IDeagen Radio&TV