Colleges: Listen to and Learn From Business Partners

Your students will thank you.

BY DR. AMY GRATCH HOYLE

COLLEGE GRADUATES have an advantage in the job market, but employers want new hires to have more than a degree. Employers want to see evidence on a candidate’s resume of leadership, ability to work in a team, written and verbal communication skills, and a strong work ethic. The challenge for colleges is to determine the experiences that provide the most persuasive evidence of these attributes.

Listening to business partners and acting based on what we learn from them are keys to any university’s success in preparing students for current and future needs of work. Business partners know what they are looking for and can provide direction in the creation of new programs and the most relevant experiences for student learning in existing programs.

Neumann University, in Aston, Pennsylvania, knows that building relationships with external stakeholders is vital. These relationships are important because when we listen to employers, we learn a great deal about what skills and knowledge students need for future success, as well as what experiences are most valuable in preparing students for the workplace. Conversations with business partners—who frequently work with us on advisory councils—have resulted in the creation of new majors at Neumann, such as undergraduate programs in both cybersecurity and digital media.

Not only were these programs the result of dialogue with business partners, but partnerships are also critical to the success of these programs. Business partners provide opportunities for experience in the field through internships. Through our partnerships, we also hire experts still working in the field to serve as instructors in college courses. In addition, partners volunteer as guest speakers to enhance the academic experience.

All these efforts help strengthen student resumes, which reflect experiences through which they have gained important leadership and collaborative skills. In addition to developing essential workplace skills, our partners provide the real-world opportunities for students to network and discover the marketplace positions that best fit their talents and career goals.

Every student at Neumann completes an internship prior to graduating. These internships are crucial for students and provide opportunities to apply skills and knowledge in the classroom. For instance, in Neumann’s undergraduate social work program, students shadow practicing social workers throughout their senior year. These students participate in a Virtual Skills Lab three times during the internship to enhance the experience. Based on input from field supervisors and their prior experience as social workers, faculty identify the points at which students are most challenged and schedule the labs to provide practice for students to improve their skills. The Virtual Skills Lab is also an excellent opportunity to collaborate and network with students studying social work in other colleges.

The best way for colleges to meet the current and future needs of business is to listen to employers on what they need and provide students with the experiences that will develop those critical skills.

Dr. Amy Gratch Hoyle is dean of the School of Education and Human Services at Neumann University.