Roanoke College announced earlier this month that Deloitte, the largest professional services network in the world, this fall will bring its Future of Work Institute to the college, giving juniors the chance to attend a hands-on workshop focused on developing human skills and preparing for the changing workplaces of tomorrow.
About 20 schools across the country have hosted the two-day workshop, which will take place at Roanoke College on Oct. 5 and 6. It is being offered thanks to a collaboration between Deloitte and the College’s center for Purpose, Life, And Career Exploration (PLACE). Juniors in any major may apply for the institute, which is free, and those who complete it will earn a micro-credential that they may display on their resumes to demonstrate their proficiency in the course topic.
“We are deeply committed to helping students at Roanoke College translate their strengths, values and educations into meaningful lives and careers,” said President Frank Shushok Jr. “This partnership provides a tremendous opportunity for students to learn from Deloitte’s experts how to bridge the critical gap between their formal academic studies and the skills employers need in today’s market. We are thrilled to be able to offer this game-changing experience to our students.”
Roanoke College said it seeks to be a cutting-edge leader in offering an education that prepares graduates to hit the ground running upon graduation. Experts predict that the workforce will change rapidly over the next several decades; according to Deloitte, a study on the future of work by Vanguard Research indicated that 65% of children entering grade school today will likely end up in job types that do not exist now.
That means students will have to be more skilled in key areas, such as resiliency and adaptability, to successfully navigate their careers. The workshop focuses on seven key human skills, which Deloitte calls Foundational Human Skills: empathy, emotional intelligence, written and verbal communication skills, adaptability and resilience, curiosity, critical thinking and problem solving, and logical reasoning.
Through hands-on sessions with Deloitte trainers, workshop attendees will learn how to hone those skills and make themselves an asset to future employers. They will also learn how to leverage their major into a job across multiple career pathways and industries, what inclusive leadership means to them, and how to contribute to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace.
Following the main workshop, students will be able to participate in supplementary hands-on sessions that allow them to apply what they learned to different scenarios such as networking and career navigation, tech fluency and more.
During a final graduation ceremony, participants will hear from Deloitte leaders, network with workshop graduates from other schools and discuss real-world uses for the concepts they learned. Those who complete the program will be welcomed into a large Future of Work Institute alumni network and LinkedIn group, where they may continue to network with peers and program facilitators.
“I am excited about this incredible prospect for our students to put the human skills embedded in a liberal arts education into practice as they consider the dynamic landscape that is the modern workplace,” said Meghan Jester, director of career exploration at Roanoke College. “Collaboration with Deloitte not only offers students a chance to understand the importance of resiliency, adaptability and curiosity in their professional lives, but also a gateway to introduce students to the opportunities, knowledge and expertise from one of the most esteemed global consulting companies.”
-The Salem Times-Register
