Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano last week joined the presidents and chancellors from the University of Denver, Colorado State University and Metropolitan State University at the State of Higher Education Forum.
With approximately 150 people in attendance representing business, government and the broader Colorado community, the panelists explored topics such as successful business partnerships; changes that need to happen in order for higher education to be more relevant, nimbler and agile; how higher education is meeting the needs of the industry, and what is the value proposition for today’s students.
With respect to workplace readiness of recent grads, DiStefano said that the challenge lies in the fact that most people change not just jobs, but careers multiple times in their life.
“If students are going to be changing jobs that frequently, how are we going to help them? The answer is continuing education,” said DiStefano.
DiStefano said that when he meets with alums, parents and friends, they all say that they would not be as successful as they are today if not for their time at CU.
“We are preparing citizens not just for business, but for nonprofit, for education, for government and so much more,” he said.
Chancellors and presidents from the different campus discussed such issues as the role of continuing education, the types of skills and attributes employers in different sectors are looking for and what institutions of higher learning are doing to graduate students who are ready to contribute and lead in the workplace.
Jeff Wasden, president of the Colorado Business Roundtable, said that the feedback received from sponsors and attendees has been overwhelmingly positive.
“From social media to emails, folks spoke to the positive nature of the conversation and the value they had in spending time with all of us. We have had multiple requests to make it an annual event, so stay tuned next year!”
