Continuum Convenes Takes On Critical Questions Of Higher Ed

UW Continuum College engages business and community leaders to explore fundamental transformations to learning. 

Earlier this year, UW Continuum College launched Continuum College Convenes, a new event series designed to engage the community in dialog about urgent issues of mutual interest, glean insights and drive action.

The inaugural event, Continuum Convenes: A Conversation That Can’t Wait, brought together 100 regional community and business leaders to explore the fundamental challenges that higher education providers must overcome to remain relevant to learners in an era of rapid change. Continuum leaders asked guests to share their thoughts on three key questions: 

• Can higher education produce the skills and expertise to meet the needs of a quickly changing economy? 
• Can we create a more accessible and inclusive post-secondary education system fast enough? 
• Can higher education keep up with the pace of change? 

Sponsored by Alaska Airlines, the program consisted of table, panel and community discussions with Rovy Branon, University of Washington Continuum College vice provost, and Jessie Woolley-Wilson, operating partner of Owl Ventures, the largest global EdTech venture capital firm. The event also featured a live taping of a special episode of the Learn/Earn/Relearn podcast series with Emmy Award-winning journalist and Continuum’s director of strategic engagement Hanson Hosein.

Our society is experiencing what happens when we marginalize people and make them feel like they don’t belong in conversations like this one. And everyone does.

 — Rovy Branon, Vice Provost, Continuum College

Panelist commentary reinforced the need for higher education to act quickly to partner with industry and create curricula that match the skills and expertise required for a dynamic and evolving economy.

In a telling example, Branon, who leads one of the largest continuing education units in the nation, told the audience, “I’m not supposed to be here.” Branon shared how a high school guidance counselor once told him he didn’t belong in college, that he wasn’t ‘college material.’

“That's why we’re having this conversation that can’t wait,” Branon said. “The time is right now. Our society is experiencing what happens when we marginalize people and make them feel like they don’t belong in conversations like this one. And everyone does.”

Reflecting on her experience as a provider of math and reading software solutions for K-12 students, Woolley-Wilson says she believes activating the best in everyone will help us unearth minds who might solve the world’s greatest problems. 

“It's in our collective best interest to unlock the learning potential of every child, regardless of where they happen to live, what language they speak at their dinner table and how much they look like us,” said Woolley-Wilson. 

Guests offered their own ideas for solutions to higher education during the community discussion portion of the evening.

“As consumers of talent, employers need to be thinking about how they work with higher education institutions to help students access pathways,” said Jessica Gilmore, global lead of AWS Academy. “An event like Continuum Convenes helps everyone consider new ways to help learners overcome barriers to skill development, and employers like us to find and evaluate the talent we need for the jobs of the future.”

With new relationships forged through this event, Continuum will continue the conversation — seeking insights to help inform programs and opportunities for Washingtonians to get the education they need to thrive in an era of rapid change.

“Even though UW Continuum College is reaching tens of thousands of learners each year, it is surprising how little people know about the role it plays within the university,” said Manca Valum, who joined Continuum one year ago as its first chief advancement officer. “At Continuum Convenes, guests were eager to learn and share their ideas for leveraging Continuum’s nimble and innovative approach to delivering higher education.”

The community conversation at Continuum Convenes reinforced the ongoing need for Continuum and its innovative approach to providing access to education and attaining credentials. The insights gathered during and after the event will help Continuum strengthen and focus its efforts to ensure equitable and inclusive higher education.

To learn more or inquire about participating in future Continuum Convenes events, email us at continuumadvancement@uw.edu and put Continuum Convenes in the subject line.