Noncredit Offerings Fulfill Changing Workforce Needs

Excelsior College is partnering with ed2go, a Cengage company and a leading provider of online adult continuing education and career training programs, to provide learners with access to fully online, noncredit courses to gain additional marketable workforce skills.

By taking a noncredit career training or professional skills training course, individuals can demonstrate practical competencies or specialized knowledge to advance their careers. The career training courses are offered in topics that meet current and emerging workforce demands and are designed to prepare learners for a new career, career advancement, or industry certification in today’s most in-demand fields such as health care, technology, and business. The professional skills training courses give learners a convenient way to explore their interests and prepare to take the next step in their personal or professional lives. Both types of courses include options that are instructor-led or self-paced, and some can be completed in as little as three months.

The career training and professional skills training courses can supplement what current students are learning in their degree programs to help them further stand out in their chosen industry.

The courses also support the needs of new online learners. Developments throughout 2020, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting changes to how people live, work, and learn, have led to growth in the online education market. New or potential online learners include recent college graduates seeking to enhance their resumes, current or prospective college students trying build on their academic experience, furloughed or laid-off workers planning to change careers, and employed individuals working from home.

“We are excited to add new opportunities for adult learners to gain skills and alternative credentials, such as certificates, through more than 1,000 online continuing education fundamental and career training courses. There are a variety of high-demand subjects that align with our current 40 degree programs across six areas of study — business, health sciences, liberal arts, nursing, public service, and technology — to help students work toward career advancement,” says Lisa R. Braverman, Excelsior College’s vice provost for academic and faculty affairs. “During COVID-19, our partnership with ed2go is even more important because it is advancing individuals’ contribution to the workforce and providing relevant education to meet the changing job landscape.”

Nationwide data reports growth and interest in alternative or microcredential educational programs, which is especially true during times of economic stress. Excelsior’s training courses respond to this need by giving learners maximum flexibility, critical upskilling opportunities, and new credentialing options.

“There is growing need for continuing education options that support learners in reskilling and advancement throughout their lifelong career journey,” said Cory Eyler, vice president and general manager for ed2go. “We are proud to partner with Excelsior to help close this gap for today’s learners and empower them with the knowledge and capabilities they need to advance in their careers and ultimately improve their lives.”

Excelsior College’s target audience are those who already possess a degree or who wish to advance, change, or find new jobs through completion of relevant workforce-related courses over the short term.

These training courses require a small investment from the student when compared to traditional degree programs and can have long-term benefits such as greater income or career change opportunities. Each course with ed2go yields a certificate of completion that learners can show to prospective employers as evidence of acquiring specific skills and competencies. According to Braverman, the acquisition of skills and competencies can lead to better job placement and career advancement, in both the short and long term.