Significant second grant will drive adoption of new models for engaging employers in credential innovation

WASHINGTON (July 24, 2024) – UPCEA, the online and professional education association, is honored to receive a $600,000 grant from Walmart to drive innovation in skills-based credentialing with a project titled, “Expanding Institutional Capacity for Employer Engagement in Credential Innovation.” 

This project will drive adoption of new models for higher ed engagement with employers and build out the UPCEA Hallmarks for Credential Innovation. The new model is a train-the-trainer approach for University-to-Business outreach and will use a scalable, design thinking-framework.

Despite employers having a strong interest in collaborating with colleges and universities to design and deliver non-degree programs, recent UPCEA research revealed that only 45% of employers were approached by institutions for such partnerships. Meanwhile, the percentage of employers partnering with external entities for training and professional development rose from 54% in 2022 to 68% in 2023, signaling that higher ed is losing ground to private providers.

The grant project includes two major initiatives to address these challenges and meet the pressing need for a skilled talent pipeline. This will help colleges and universities bolster their capacity to develop sustainable and scalable strategies for engaging employers as well as embrace innovation in skills-based credentialing. To scale employer and institutional engagement, this project will: 

1. Expand the institutional capacity for employer engagement through a “train the trainer” model commonly used in teaching hospitals. This will pair practitioners focused on applying learning and research. Colleges and universities will have the opportunity to participate in a program designed to foster University-to-Business outreach and engagement, with a goal of skills-based training to meet employer needs. This training will be supported through a one-to-one mentorship program and continued knowledge sharing through conferences, whitepapers, and case studies.

2. Build on the previously funded initiative to create a consortium of universities aligning their credentials with local/regional employers by offering targeted consulting support to the initial set of 10 consortium members to move from the planning phase to credential implementation.

“UPCEA is helping colleges create credentials for the jobs and skills employers need, which is a big unlock,” said Patti Constantakis, Director of Retail Opportunity at Walmart.org. “This grant will help universities form tighter relationships with employers, paving the way for the development of impactful credentials that meet the needs of workers and employers while strengthening local economies.”

“Thanks to Walmart’s continued support, this project will help member institutions expand their capacity to engage employers in new and innovative credentialing work, at scale, to help close the skills gap across the nation. It’s tremendously exciting and so timely,” said Amy Heitzman, UPCEA’s Deputy CEO and Chief Learning Officer.

Amy Heitzman, UPCEA Deputy CEO and Chief Learning Officer, Melissa Peraino, Director of Content Development and Volunteer Leader Management, and Stacy Chiaramonte, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Operations for UPCEA Research and Consulting, are serving as Co-Principal Investigators for the 18-month grant.

This initiative will include opportunities for UPCEA members to engage in knowledge sharing events to learn from their peers. Additional information will be shared with UPCEA members via email. 

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About UPCEA

UPCEA is the online and professional education association. Our members positively impact millions of lives by continuously reinventing higher education. We advance the professional field through cutting edge research, professional development, networking and mentorship, conferences and seminars, and stakeholder advocacy. Our collaborative, entrepreneurial community brings together decision makers and influencers in education, industry, research, and policy interested in improving educational access and outcomes. Learn more about us at UPCEA.edu and follow us on social media @UPCEA.

 

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart.org represents the philanthropic efforts of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation. By focusing where the business has unique strengths, Walmart.org works to tackle key social and environmental issues and collaborate with others to spark long-lasting systemic change. Walmart has stores in 19 countries, employs more than 2.1 million associates and does business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Walmart.org is helping people live better by supporting programs to accelerate upward job mobility for frontline workers, advance equity, address hunger, build inclusive economic opportunity for people in supply chains, protect and restore nature, reduce waste and emissions, and build strong communities where Walmart operates. To learn more, visit www.walmart.org or connect on Twitter @Walmartorg.

 

CONTACT:

Molly Nelson, UPCEA Vice President of Communications, [email protected]