Dozens of businesses have told the Twig team over the past 12 months that universities are too complex to engage with for training – but were really surprised to hear that there were many qualifications and modules already on offer that they could put multiple staff into.
At the same time, many universities have also said they wished a greater slice of the $8 billion that large and medium sized companies spend on training annually went to universities – and remain surprised that businesses don’t connect more.
That’s why we have decided to establish HE2B in 2025 – a new approach to connect the HE sector to business.
This is not about simply selling a few courses – institutions can already do that.
This is recognising that businesses are increasingly wanting a selection of quality training that builds precise capabilities for employees now. It’s not about putting a bunch of staff through a two year Masters – although there is a place for that – but more about providing staff with a tailored cocktail of units, micro skills and non-accredited training programs, with a direct and tangible result for business – building capacity in precisely the areas they need.
The HE2B concept is based around the idea that a lot of institutions realise they don’t have the capacity or business experience to craft tailored programs for business – essentially, institutions love the concept of agility, but just find it hard to implement.
It’s like asking a platinum bar to jump. The bar is valuable and rare, but it’s not about to grow legs and move itself around. Higher Education institutions want to engage with business, but often they just can’t. That’s why HE2B exists.
We promised Future Campus readers wouldn’t be getting advertorial, but have included this article as a public service announcement and an idea.
Lots of institutions are doing it tough right now – and yet there are significant domestic cohorts which could be accessed through new approaches to engagement and where possible, to curriculum development and delivery.
HE2B is a service – but we also just want to grow the conversation about better practice in connecting with larger sections of industry – not just your 10 favourite alumni.
To find out more about HE2B, visit www.he2b.com.au or to build the conversation on this topic, send us your thoughts at tim@futurecampus.com.au
