Revolutionizing Education: WGU's Transformative Model for Technical Upskilling and Competency-Based Learning
Revolutionizing Education: WGU's Transformative Model for Technical Upskilling and Competency-Based Learning
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Summary
By leveraging Udacity's expertise in delivering industry-relevant content and WGU's competency based framework, the Data Analyst Nanodegree program represents a significant step forward in bridging the gap between academia and industry requirements.
Company
Western Governors University (WGU)
Nanodegrees
Introduction to Data Analysis & Practical Statistics, Data Wrangling & Data Modeling, Data Visualization, Programming, Machine Learning
80%
Of Graduates
Acknowledge that their learning experience has propelled their career advancement, enabling them to progress towards their professional goals.
75%
Of Graduates
Are able to apply the skills gained from the Nanodegree program in their current roles, enhancing their effectiveness and productivity.
70%
Of Graduates
Confirm that the quality and speed of their work have significantly improved due to the skills acquired through the Udacity Nanodegree program.
Overview
WGU & Udacity: Transforming Online Education with Competency-Based Learning
Western Governors University (WGU), a renowned private, non-profit online university based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is revolutionizing education with its unique approach centered around competency-based education.
Back in 2018, WGU conducted an extensive search for a learning provider that aligned closely with its core mission and vocational approach to education. After careful consideration, WGU formed a strategic partnership with Udacity to develop a customized Data Analyst Nanodegree program for the university's prestigious College of IT. This specialized program, designed collaboratively by WGU and Udacity, equips students with the essential skills and knowledge required to excel in the field of data analysis.
The program covers a wide range of core technologies, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to tackle realworld data challenges head-on:
- Data Wrangling & Data Modeling
- Data Visualization
- Programming
- Machine Learning
Challenge
WGU and Udacity: A Perfect Partnership for Real-World Data Skills
When WGU sought a learning partner with industry expertise to deliver IT data management and analytics skills, they encountered a challenge. Many providers lacked the practical, hands-on component that aligned with WGU's mission of real-world skill development. The university needed a partner offering rigorous online learning with video, text, and hands-on practice, along with a methodology that ensured competency through continuous assessment.
While building the program in-house was an option, it required subject-matter expertise that was unavailable at the time. That's when Udacity emerged as the ideal solution, providing WGU with a comprehensive "one-stop shop" for all their Data Science learning needs.
Udacity stood out due to its commitment to project-based learning and continuous assessment, aligning perfectly with WGU's practitioner model of education, where students must demonstrate skills on the job from day one.
"WGU is a different kind of university, which was set up 25 years ago to deliver a radically different model of education. We care deeply about delivering competency-based learning that provides every student, regardless of their socio-economic status, with real-world, practical skills that are job-aligned when they graduate. That’s why Udacity’s impressive project-based methodology and reliance on human reviews by industry experts aligned perfectly with our commitment to real-world job skills."
Eric Lagally
Associate Dean, WGU
Solution
WGU and Udacity: Tailored Learning for Real-World Success
Customization was key to ensuring that WGU students could seamlessly integrate Udacity into their overall learning experience. With Udacity's self paced, fully online platform, WGU stayed true to its commitment of making education accessible to all, granting students the flexibility to learn anytime and anywhere.
Udacity's platform offered a diverse range of learning modalities, including engaging videos, real-world projects, and the opportunity to receive code review and feedback from industry experts. This comprehensive learning experience met WGU's need for intellectual rigor while ensuring industry alignment and covering the latest technical skills essential for WGU learners. The collaborative spirit between WGU and Udacity was vital, leading to the division of Udacity's Nanodegree into five parts for easier consumption and improved learner outcomes.
Through the partnership between WGU and Udacity, a tailored and industry-aligned learning experience was created, empowering WGU students to acquire in-demand skills for real-world success.
Outcomes
WGU and Udacity: Empowering Students and Driving Career Advancement
The collaboration between WGU and Udacity has yielded significant outcomes, ultimately equipping students with the technical skills they need to excel in the workplace. Graduates emerge as job-ready Data Analysts, armed with a diverse range of skills that enhance their professional capabilities.
80%
Of graduates acknowledge that their learning experience has propelled their career advancement, enabling them to progress towards their professional goals.
75%
Of graduates are able to apply the skills gained from the Nanodegree program in their current roles, enhancing their effectiveness and productivity.
70%
Of graduates confirm that the quality and speed of their work have significantly improved due to the skills acquired through the Udacity Nanodegree program.
Furthermore, the collaboration between WGU and Udacity has contributed to the diversity of graduate profiles. Udacity's program has attracted a significant number of low-income students who greatly appreciate the flexible, self-paced learning experience, which accommodates their other responsibilities. WGU's Data Analytics program stands out for its diversity, with a 40% participation rate of female students, solid representation of Black and Hispanic students, and a substantial percentage of participants from low-income backgrounds (earning less than $34k per year).
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Together, WGU and Udacity have made a profound impact on students' lives, empowering them with essential skills, enhancing their career prospects, and fostering diversity within the field of Data Analytics. This successful partnership exemplifies the commitment of both institutions to delivering high-quality education that transforms lives and drives positive societal change.
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