People-Centered Workforce Development in the Age of Advanced Technology
A Q&A with Marc Booker
Since computing and communications technologies have become commonplace in the workplace, educators have explored the best uses of these technologies—not only to increase speed and efficiency but also to harness the latest technologies with people-centered skills that truly empower students to take their place in the world of work. How can we incorporate these skills into workforce training programs at our colleges and universities?
Here, Marc Booker, vice provost for strategy at the University of Phoenix, explores how to recognize and promote human-centered workforce development in higher education.
The University of Phoenix has supported people-centered workforce development for 50 years. (Image courtesy of the University of Phoenix)
Prioritizing Workforce Development
Maria Grush: Is it fair to say that in its 50th year, the University of Phoenix has prioritized curricula that support workforce development and student success?
Marc Booker: Mary, I don’t think that’s a fair statement, considering that our institution was founded specifically because there weren’t many programs for working adult students to learn, navigate, and succeed in careers or change careers. Therefore, personnel development is an essential part of our identity and deeply anchored in our DNA.
The Need for Human Skills in a High-Tech World
Grush: Are we facing a time when the workforce truly needs the development of new skills that are uniquely human—skills that institutional leaders use to create effective, human-centered programs, even in high-tech environments? Is this a new need in response to AI or some other current or emerging technology?
Booker: Actually, workforce development at the University of Phoenix has always been a people-centered endeavor. You can see this when you look back over decades at what we have done to develop the best people who will serve their companies well and ultimately serve society better.
In workforce development efforts, it is best to start with the person—the person who has the knowledge or teachable skills—because even in the world of evolving and advancing technology, people personalize the technical skills we already have and add their own creativity and insights.
The Role of Technology in People-Centered Development
Advanced technologies and tools should make us more efficient and allow us to work faster and produce more; there is no argument against that. But the human-centered nature of making connections and making those connections personal, relevant, and accessible to other people always delivers more. This is the magic of any technology—when it works through a human lens. And through people-focused workforce development, you provide the skills that impact and represent not only the product and practice but also the person.
The human-centered nature of making connections and making those connections personal, relevant, and accessible to other people always brings more value. This is where the magic of any technology lies.
For more information, you can read the full article Here.
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