Making opportunities more accessible. Helping underdeveloped and underrepresented communities alleviate their socioeconomic status. Closing the wealth gap. Demand and supply in the labor force.
All of these social issues can be solved with an education system that is capable of catering to the needs of its students. In the past, higher education was a privilege that only a select few could afford. Today, we have millions of perfectly eligible college-age adults and other individuals who have chosen to make a career change in order to cater to differences in supply and demand—but is our education system keeping up with what our economy needs?
In this episode, Alexander McCaig discusses alternative approaches to continued learning with special guest, Jim Bologa.
Jim Bologa is the President and CEO of the Porter and Chester Institute, which services Connecticut and Massachusetts; and the YTI Career Institute in Pennsylvania.
Remember what it felt like to graduate high school and suddenly feel bereft of purpose? You’ve got an entire world of possibilities that’s yours to take, but you just don’t know how to get your foot in the door.
Jim Bologa revealed that from time to time, he starts discussions surrounding higher education. The main issue is trying to find another viable path after high school for both young working adults who want to do something different, or elevate their career path from low-skill service jobs; and older individuals transitioning into different jobs.
The reality is that today, one college degree is not enough to last us a lifetime. In a world where information travels at the speed of light, we are pressured to become lifelong learners and to mold ourselves to an ever-changing job market.
Jim’s solution is to offer short-term diplomas and degrees in fields with high demand, with opportunities for asynchronous learning. This gives students the capability to transition into learning at their own pace, or to juggle a variety of other personal responsibilities alongside their education.
These programs usually take between 10 to 20 months to complete and in most cases, his students find jobs even before they graduate. This is made possible due to partnerships with companies who are looking for a reliable source of talent and skill in an unstable job market.
The COVID-19 outbreak has changed the way we live and work. Plenty of people are struggling with learning the skills needed to land a stable job when social distancing measures and public health issues make it difficult to maintain a semblance of normalcy.
This just goes to show that edtech is an incredibly powerful tool. Strategies like asynchronous learning and online classes are helpful for both schools and students because it’s giving everybody the best of both worlds. It’s a beautiful example of education changing for the better.
This paradigm shift in higher education caters to the job market in a way that benefits everyone involved. For example, if you’re a medical assistant and you’ve decided to become a practical nurse or respiratory therapist, you don’t need to go through four years of schooling to get certified. The return on an individual’s time and investment is increased, and companies are getting the talented people they need to maintain their operations.
Our economy needs a bridge that everyone, regardless of age, social status, or educational level, can use to adapt to an incredibly dynamic job market. That’s what Jim Bologa promises in his schools: a relationship-driven approach that offers flexibility to students, so that everyone can supplement their lifelong learning.
This is how humanity evolves. Our goal of creating data champions can only be achieved when people get the education and financial stability that they deserve. For the longest time, the best opportunities were only reserved for those who were already at the top of the socioeconomic ladder. Today, edtech and initiatives like the ones run by Jim Bologa make it possible for everyone else to access it too.
The increased access to educational opportunities have also been a clear win for companies because they also have a growing supply of talent and skill to supplement their operations. This idea has helped cause a domino effect between schools, companies, and the general public. It’s clear that we only truly win when we all win together.
What’s your data worth?
