Rethinking Healthcare Education for a Workforce in Transition

Constance St. Germain, President of Capella University, discusses the need for higher education to adapt to workforce demands, particularly in healthcare, by offering flexible, relevant, and employer-aligned education models.

About the role

Higher education institutions must reconcile workforce needs with student demands, delivering education that fills knowledge and skill gaps in healthcare. The sector faces talent shortages, employee burnout, and evolving skill demands, requiring more flexible and workforce-aligned pathways to support a diverse, working learner population.

Challenges in healthcare workforce alignment

• Burnout and high turnover among healthcare employees, with fewer than a third feeling valued by their employers.
• One in five healthcare employees believes their employer is not invested in their long-term career success beyond their current role.
• Opportunities to drive engagement and loyalty, particularly among Gen Z, through education benefits and tuition support.

Evolving higher education models

• Traditional higher education was designed for full-time students aged 18–22, but today’s learners are often in their late 20s or 30s, working full-time, and managing families.
• Flexibility in learning is essential, not optional, to accommodate the bandwidth constraints of modern learners.
• Learners demand a clear return on investment, with immediate applicability of skills in the workforce.
• Institutions must partner with employers to create clear, relevant pathways aligned with workforce needs.

Role of labor market intelligence

• Labor market intelligence should be foundational, guiding curriculum design and student advising.
• Healthcare shortages are highly localized, requiring institutions to understand regional and employer-specific trends.
• Real-time intelligence ensures students are prepared for current, not outdated, workforce demands.

Expanding access and flexibility

• Institutions must rethink how learning is delivered, leveraging online education and competency-based models.
• Competency-based education focuses on real-world skills rather than seat time, allowing learners to progress at their own pace.
• Flexibility in structure and pacing is critical to keeping students engaged and efficient in their learning.
• Partnerships with employers through advisory boards and education benefits ensure alignment with workforce needs.

Workforce-aligned learning model

• Employer input is essential in program and curriculum development, ensuring alignment with real job requirements.
• Backward program design integrates employer feedback, accreditation standards, and discipline requirements.
• Students demonstrate mastery of competencies, with continuous feedback loops to maintain alignment with employer needs.
• Learners engage with employers to understand required skills, leverage tuition benefits, and align education with career advancement.

Collaboration models between higher ed and healthcare employers

• Embed real-world application into learning through classroom projects or role-specific programs.
• AI is a critical focus, with healthcare professionals expecting to build AI-related skills in the next few years.
• Institutions and employers must collaborate to ensure learners understand how to use AI effectively, ethically, and practically.

For more insights, visit the healthcare workforce survey to explore what professionals want to learn and how institutions and employers can better support and retain them.