21st-century universities need to build lifelong relationships

Jim Estill (BASc ’80) is the CEO of Danby in Guelph, ON. He was recently named a member of the Order of Canada and was honoured with a Global Hope Coalition award for sponsoring 58 Syrian families.

Jim EstillUniversities often think of the students they are teaching today, but universities that build lifelong relationships with students will be the most successful in a future where rapid change is inevitable. 

Since I graduated in 1980, the world of engineering has seen profound shifts. As we look forward to increasingly rapid shifts in our economy, I believe universities will need to do five things well:

  1. Focus on continuous learning: I didn’t learn about the Internet of Things or blockchain when I was in university. Successful people are lifelong learners and universities can help busy people learn by transforming short intense programs into longer programs with lighter course loads. Would you sign up for a graduate degree in business that lasted over a decade of your career?

  2. Offer audio course work: Anything a university can do to help busy people learn makes sense. Why not let them listen to audio courses while they drive, exercise or walk?

  3. Focus on soft skills: The successful people I know are good at soft skills such as communication, time management, negotiation and organization. It is not always the technically smartest employee who thrives but rather those who excel at soft skills.

  4. Teach students how to network: I am a LinkedIn fanatic. LinkedIn is a network where people maintain their own content information. LinkedIn works best with a larger network because the network effect kicks in. The best time to start building a network is in university. 

  5. Run help networks for alumni: I’m a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), an organization with subnetworks around topics of interest that I use as a way to learn.

We are in an era of unprecedented change and disruption. Universities can remain relevant and thrive as long as they continue to challenge tradition and adapt to the new realities.