Even as institutions of higher education discuss how they might best meet needs of students in the future through traditional degree-based modalities, they face increased pressure to take an active role in the upskilling and reskilling of individuals, both those in the workforce and those attempting to gain skills to either get back in or progress to more stable and higher paying employment.
For the purposes of the current discussion, upskilling relates to advanced knowledge/skills needed within a job sector, whereas reskilling relates to a completely different set of knowledge/skills for a different job sector. While community colleges have taken a lead in addressing the needs for a changing workforce, there is a critical need for universities to play a much greater role, including through initiatives such as offering certificates, credentials, and certifications both built into degrees and offered separately, as well as enabling greater flexibility in offerings, modalities of instruction, and structure.
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