CECU 2019: Top Takeaways & Trends
The first week of June brought Digital Call Solutions the 2019 CECU convention and exposition, held in New Orleans. This year the overarching theme that Career Education Colleges and Universities decided to explore was innovation and technology skills, both of which are essential to continued growth in education and the ability to better prepare college students for their futures. Once again, this convention brought together leading minds and opened the floor for discussions, networking, and the continued growth of the industry. These are Digital Call Solutions’ observations and top takeaways from CECU 2019.
Regulatory and Marketing Adaptation Remains Top of Mind
Within the sessions that were held, there was a continued emphasis on student outcomes and the regulatory climate regarding marketing and business practices as well as compliance and regulatory issues. Several of the marketing breakout sessions focused on improving efficiency and effectiveness of their marketing in order to improve conversions. Additionally, there were sessions that centered mainly on the needs of and how to market to millennials and Generation Z students. These themes of continued adaptation within marketing towards the younger generations is a continued trend from other conventions this year and continues to be a strong area to explore going forward.
Education Leaders are Preparing for the Future of the Workforce
Adaptation and improvements, however, do not stop at marketing and business practices. Sessions revolved around innovation and technology for the jobs of tomorrow. An underlying current on workforce partnerships and employer sponsored education programs wove these sessions together. Keynote speaker Jim Carroll kicked off the conference with a thought-provoking presentation on the future of our workforce and, explicitly, the skills and knowledge that will be needed to stay competitive as a country. His challenge to all education leaders was to start thinking about and planning for these future jobs, specifically these jobs that have not been created yet which will be filled by people who don’t yet know that they will want these careers. To help stimulate this thought process, he gave examples of workforce gaps that will manifest with the continued growth in technology and advances in automation up to and including the replacement of certain trades and careers.
Career Schools Continuing to Focus on Needs and Outcomes of Students
The current state of for-profit higher education and what will be to come for the future scholars and workers of the country was a widespread topic this year at CECU. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx gave an inspiring presentation on the value of trade and career schools. She narrowed in on the importance of focusing on the needs and outcomes of our students. She assured her audience that this sector will always remain a high priority for her and other legislators, giving examples of her own work in this sector and sharing how career schools have impacted her life.
Overall, CECU delivered on the promise of stimulating discussion around innovation and technology in the industry and sparked many ideas for the improvement of student engagement and the retention of students. The atmosphere of CECU was alive with possibility and the ways we can continue to grow and impact higher education. We look forward to next year’s convention to compare growth and changes in the industry.
