A partnership with a regionally accredited institution enhances your organization's brand by demonstrating the high standards it attaches to its employees' professional development.

• September 2017

• April 2017

Why Your Organization and Higher Education Need Each Other

The five things you need to consider in a potential higher education partnership.

The prospect of building a relationship between your organization and a higher education provider may seem overwhelming at first.

However, supporting your employees' professional development will reflect positively on your business and will be well worth the effort. There's little doubt that, in the final analysis, businesses and academic institutions need one another.

Thomas Edison State University's Office of Strategic Partnerships and Outreach team suggests five things you need to consider in a potential higher education partnership:

1. Why partner with a college or university? According to Tom Phillips, associate director of Strategic Partnership Initiatives, when you formalize your relationship through an educational partnership, your organization acquires an additional layer of service and collaboration to complement an already well-established educational product. "Beyond that, a partnership with a regionally accredited institution enhances the organization's brand by demonstrating the high standards it attaches to its employees' professional development," he noted.
2. What should organizations look for in an educational partner? Jessiah Styles, associate director of Strategic Partnerships and Outreach, noted that there are three questions employers want to ask themselves when sizing up an educational partner. "I like to call it 'AIM' which stands for Alignment Imperative Marketing," he said. "First, ask yourself if there is a natural alignment with your strategic plan for employee development and the evolving competencies needed to fill current or anticipated skills gaps. Second, is education through certifications or degree completion imperative for your employees' advancement? And, is it imperative for the livelihood of your organization? Lastly, how much time is the organization prepared to devote to making sure specifics about the partnership are marketed or communicated to employees?"
3. What constitutes an effective partnership? Phillips suggests that an effective partnership considers a broad spectrum of important factors, ranging from standard practices to your organization's strategic efforts. "While transparency, flexibility and ongoing communication are staples for an effective higher educational partnership, the partnership will need to be tailored to the organization based on available tuition benefits, employee demographics and its business environment," he said.
4. Is the relationship a good fit? Kelli Parlante-Givas, director of Strategic Partnership Management, noted that it's important to feel comfortable with an educational partner. "It's essential to seek out relationships you can personally connect with. This helps in achieving mutual goals and outcomes with your educational partner that will benefit your organization in the long run," she said. "Finally, be patient. Enduring partnerships can take time to grow. Take the time to do some research and find a partner that has accredited high-quality programs and an academic model that complements your strategic objectives."
5. What can you do to ensure that your partnership remains productive? Janet Eickhoff, associate vice president of Strategic Partnerships and Outreach, explained that the most important thing organizations can do to ensure that their educational partnership continues to thrive is to designate a partnership liaison within the organization. "The liaison can serve as the point person during the partnership's lifecycle," she said. "A designated liaison between your education partner, you and your employees will also ensure dissemination of accurate and timely information to your employees and guarantee the partnership's continued alignment with your organization's objectives."

If you're looking for more guidance on building a relationship with a higher education partner, we can help. Email the Office of Strategic Partnerships and Outreach or call (609) 984-7188.

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