I've always thought of “knowledge” as an engine that drives innovation, individual and corporate successes and economic prosperity. And, I believe that public universities like ours have a responsibility – really a mandate from taxpayers, as well as area residents and businesses -- to partner with industry to serve the educational and training needs of existing and emerging sectors and to help ensure successful career pathways.
For the past several years we have developed some great “customized
training” programs for organizations such as Kaiser Permanente, Stone Brewing
Company and Tri -City Medical Center -- providing
the training that helps facilitate career growth for thousands of employees and
offering certificates that articulate achievement in disciplines such as
Supervising Employees and Human Resource Management (http://www.csusm.edu/el/customtraining/index.html).
We've also established Advisory Councils to offer
leadership, insight and counsel as we develop programs in Cybersecurity, Water
Resource Management, Business Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Leadership
and Hospitality and Tourism Management. Our Advisory Council members understand
their respective business sectors as only an insider could. They help us create
meaningful programs, teach courses, offer internships and practicums and
establish/monitor curriculum and teaching strategies to ensure our students
have a competitive advantage.
Our Hospitality and Tourism Management advisors helped us
develop a unique specialization for the MBA program that launches later this
year (www.csusm.edu/mba/samba/index.html)
and they’re also helping us develop a “Business of Hospitality” Professional
Certificate. Industry leaders in Cybersecurity have been the driving force for
an emerging Professional Science Master’s degree in this field (www.csusm.edu/el/degreeprograms/psmcybersecurity/index.html)
as well as stackable certificates.
We’re reaching out to elected officials, regional business
leaders and existing and prospective students to ensure that we are making the
connections necessary to stay on top of career opportunities and bridge the gap
between the skills that area residents have today and the knowledge base that
regional employers currently have and will develop in the next few years.
Do you have an idea for a new program, partnership or area
of study we ought to pursue? I’d love to hear from you at eldean@csusm.edu.
