Now more than ever, having the right skills across your organization is crucial for driving growth. It’s more time and budget efficient for employees and companies alike to upskill from within by offering focused higher education to stay ahead of the competition with the latest know-how. Still, a recent study by Forbes shows that in the United States alone: “over 39 million adults have attended college but earned no degree or other credential.” Now is the time to fill the skills gap and maximize your team’s potential! 

Global education leader Pearson is bringing the concept of upskilling from within to the next level with new advances in the Accelerated Pathways program. The landscape of education is always evolving, and our latest 8-module course structure aligns with our commitment to innovation. Learners appreciate the organization, clarity, and flow of materials in this new format. The integration of video content and interactive learning objects (ILO) further enhanced the learning experience, providing a cohesive and engaging framework for learners to follow. 

Your team members can benefit from an even more enriching learning experience for career advancement and company growth. 

Highlights:  

• Self-paced learning with instructor support for questions, feedback, and grades

• Fewer quizzes and tests, more hands-on projects 

• Open enrollment to start anytime

Instructors are the pillars of learner success 

A significant highlight of the revamped courses is the enhanced role of instructors. Learners have expressed immense gratitude for the timely and constructive feedback from their instructors. The prompt responses to messages create a more immersive and "real" course experience, fostering a supportive learning environment. This feedback isn't just beneficial for academic purposes; it acts as a powerful confidence booster, encouraging learners to engage more deeply with the course content.

Projects bring learning to life 

The shift from traditional exams to project-based assessments marks a pivotal change in our approach to evaluating learner understanding. The remastered courses have replaced the conventional summative mid-term and final exams with projects, offering a more authentic means for learners to demonstrate their mastery of the material. Previously, some courses relied solely on multiple-choice quizzes and summative exams, while others combined written assignments with these traditional assessment methods.

Learners now have the opportunity to engage in projects that increase their interest in the content by being able to apply it directly to real-life situations. The clear instructions and detailed rubrics provided for these projects have been well-received, addressing past concerns about alignment between instructions and expectations. By giving more weight to projects than multiple choice quizzes, we emphasize the importance of real-life application over memorization. 

Further innovation for dynamic, engaging education

The positive feedback from learners highlights the success of these changes and underscores the importance of continuously evolving our educational methods. As we move forward, we remain committed to refining our courses to provide the best possible learning experience. The 8-module structure, supportive instructors, and project-based assessments are just the beginning. Together, we are building a future where education is dynamic, practical, and deeply rewarding. 

Join us on this journey as we continue to innovate and inspire. Your feedback and enthusiasm drive us to keep improving and ensuring that every learner can achieve their full potential. Here's to a new era of learning, where knowledge meets real-world application!

Questions? Connect with a representative at Accelerated Pathways for more details. 

At this year’s SHRM conference in Chicago, attendees had the opportunity to join the panel on “Strategic Upskilling: Fueling Retention in the Age of Innovation,” with speakers from Edcor, Amazon, the KFC Foundation, and Brinker International, parent company of Chili's and Maggiano's. The session highlighted the transformative power of upskilling through education benefits and the significant impact on employee retention in today’s rapidly changing business environment.

Moderator:

• Vicki Greene, President of GED Testing Service and SVP of Pearson Workforce Skills

Panelists:  

• Jeff Bulanda, Senior Manager, Amazon Career Choice 
  Adrienne Way, CEO & Owner, Edcor 
  Debbie Rollins, Program Director, KFC Foundation 
  Scott Roberson, Senior Project Lead, Brinker International

A holistic approach to employee education benefits

While discussing the importance of well-rounded employer-offered education benefits, Edcor’s CEO Andrienne Way stressed the necessity of paying attention to the entire employee base and understanding their diverse needs and aspirations. This approach is essential for creating meaningful programs that cater to employees at various stages of their careers.

Scott Roberson from Brinker International shared how their program, Best You EDU™, supports over 65,000 employees through initiatives like English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, GED credentialing via GEDWorks™, and degree options through Pearson Accelerated Pathways. These programs are tailored to meet employees where they are, helping them advance in their careers.

Debbie Rollins of the KFC Foundation discussed their significant expansion from one to over nine educational programs in the last 14 years. Many of KFC’s 100,000 emoloyees are frontline workers without a high school diploma. As a founding partner of GEDWorks, the KFC Foundation has enabled over 400 employees to earn their GED credentials through GEDWorks – it’s life-changing for them and their families!

Moving onto higher education, companies and employees appreciate how Pearson Accelerated Pathways ensure that no credit is left behind – whether it’s for Associate, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree studies. Academic advisors review existing credits and incorporate them into the degree path for seamless and cost-effective transition towards achieving academic and professional goals, saving time and money for learners and companies alike.

Financial considerations and managing learner expectations

Panelists explored the financial implications of offering education benefits, which ultimately save organizations money by reducing recruitment, hiring, and training expenses. Beyond financial savings, such benefits contribute to a more skilled and loyal workforce.

Scott pointed out that while degrees and certificates can open doors to new opportunities, they do not automatically lead to pay raises or promotions. However, they prepare employees for greater responsibilities and potential career advancement. Jeff Bulanda from Amazon Career Choice emphasized the importance of ensuring employees are adequately trained for advanced roles, such as data center technicians at AWS.

Expanding benefits to family members and student loan repayment

The conversation also touched on expanding educational benefits to family members and offering student loan repayment options. Edcor’s Adrienne Way addressed how some healthcare organizations use student loan repayment to attract physicians and nurses, highlighting the potential for similar strategies in other industries. Scott talked about plans to extend benefits to one family member and considering student loan forgiveness. Vicki noted that educational benefits go beyond empowering individuals to achieve their degrees – they have a generational effect that positively impacts their family.  

The evolution of education toward flexibility and focus on skills  

The pursuit of higher education has become increasingly flexible and accessible, compared to the traditional approaches that have been in place for centuries.  

For example, going from the GED or a traditional high school diploma to college-level learning is easier now thanks to Bridge-to-College courses by Pearson Accelerated Pathways. Flexible, online courses are available to learners who completed their high school credential but are not quite ready to dive into a college degree. The courses set them up for success with organizational skills as well as more advanced English and Math, all of which count as credits when enrolling in a higher education institution.  

One exciting opportunity for professionals is the ability to obtain a graduate certificate or stack credits towards a master’s degree through programs like Pearson Accelerated Pathways. This innovative approach allows individuals to use their existing credits, significantly reducing the cost and time required to earn an advanced degree. Degrees can be achieved without career interruption, enabling individuals and companies to plan for growth and keep up with skill demands.

Embracing AI and technological advancements

The discussion concluded with an exploration of the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and other technological advancements in education. AI is already being used by students to aid their learning. Pearson is actively developing tools to harness AI’s potential in education, ensuring that students and professionals alike can benefit from these innovations.

By leveraging past education, providing comprehensive support, and embracing technological advancements, organizations can empower their employees to achieve their academic and professional goals. This holistic approach benefits employees directly and contributes to overall organizational success and growth.