Thread by @william_r_kerr

Our @HarvardHBS MBA course on #ManagingTheFutureOfWork is underway!

I share a few key ideas from each class that sparked conversation.

Class 25 analyzed @wgu, an online college & credential provider with big ambitions (#819-093, forthcoming).

With costs spiraling & resulting skills often missing workforce needs, the US education system needs an overhaul. WGU addresses these problems by using online scale to offer lower prices ($6k/yr!) & being flexible enough to build/deploy new competencies quickly for students.

WGU serves >100k students each year and is growing ~ 20% p.a. It has students in all 50 states and has partnerships with community colleges and unions. WGU particularly serves adults with jobs/families and populations historically under-served by 4-year colleges.

WGU President @pulsipher_wgu says many who want to study simply don't have access to the existing higher education system. He explained to class how this ambition to provide both quantity and quality in higher education animates WGU's work:

Class was split on whether WGU could achieve further 10x growth by 2030. Growth in WGU's core segments & rapid online ed expansion are in its favor. But such scale makes it hard to maintain the strong mentorship that drives alumni referrals (the main source of new students).

WGU's focus on competency based education is distinctive. Class praised CBE's compatiblity with emerging job needs & future workforce credentialing, but worried some about ensuring preparation of students for long-term career growth as well.

Scott discussed WGU's approach: