Why Professional and Executive Education is a Win-Win for Corporations and Employees 

Learn why upskilling your workforce with professional education can be a key differentiator for businesses in 2024.

Technology, industry trends, and vital skills continue to change rapidly, and businesses are at risk of falling behind. This risk can be attributed to corporations not investing in learning opportunities and professional development for their employees through professional and executive education. Nowhere is this more apparent than in many technical fields, including engineering, data science, AI, healthcare, and cybersecurity.  

Executive education—including professional executive workshops and online courses—enables businesses to upskill their employees and broaden their horizons. Ultimately, professional educational experiences are a win-win for both employees and businesses. Corporations can positively impact their bottom line while providing employees with the most current industry trends and technical skills. Employees and their teams also benefit from professional development opportunities and leadership training that expand their toolkits and empower them to solve tomorrow’s industry challenges.  Learn more about the benefits of professional education and executive education below.  

What is the difference between executive education and professional education? 

Businesses have many options available to them when it comes to developing employee skill sets. Two of these options—professional education and executive education—often differ with the intended audience and scope.  

• Professional education is designed for working adults with busy schedules who want to take a deeper dive into their industry of choice or learn new skills and abilities. Professional education is completed at the individual level; it can also be provided by an organization for its employees.    
• Executive education is not dissimilar to professional education but often provides an intensive strategic and technical overview of an engineering topic over the span of one to four days. The target audience for these programs is business leaders, managers, or those on track to become one. 

Many programs—including professional workshops—now provide virtual and in-person options to pursue executive education opportunities. These options make educational opportunities and professional development courses more accessible than ever before and improve learning outcomes.  

Why businesses should provide executive education and professional development programs to their employees

For employers looking to empower their employees, develop leadership skills, and set them up for future success, providing executive education and professional development is extraordinarily valuable. Professional development and educational programs for a corporation’s employees can have a positive impact on its bottom line and retention efforts. Additionally, executive education and other professional education opportunities can build agile teams that are empowered to capitalize on opportunities they uncover in the marketplace.  

What is the return on investment for executive education and professional development? 

While corporations can often point to a financial return on the education of their employees, there are numerous other benefits to a business that invests in professional development in the form of executive education or professional education. These benefits can often be measured beyond the “dollars and cents” of a typical return on investment.   

An executive education program provides business leaders with an educational background and skills that enable them—and the teams they lead—to solve complex challenges. It also provides a valuable opportunity for leaders to broaden their horizons by working with—and learning from—subject matter experts and their industry peers.  

A business that invests in the development of its people is better positioned to succeed. In an era where recruiting and retaining top talent is a business imperative, providing developmental and broadening experiences like executive education can’t be overlooked. These opportunities may be a key differentiator for employees and leaders looking to take their next professional steps and can prove to employees that their business is investing in them.  

These factors can have a profound impact on an organization’s bottom line and enable a business to meet its objectives and win in the marketplace. After all, a well-educated, driven, and diverse workforce is more likely to succeed while navigating day-to-day business needs.  

Why partner with Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering Lifelong Learning to provide executive education?

Johns Hopkins Engineering Lifelong Learning is a valuable partner to any organization’s chief learning officer, human resources managers, and more.  We’ve partnered with dozens of organizations from private industry to government agencies to provide employee development and upskilling solutions with education programs and executive education through Lifelong Learning. 

Support your employees’ career trajectory goals and advance their technical and critical thinking skills while enhancing your competitive advantage with a knowledgeable and future-proof workforce. 

Lifelong Learning courses—whether customized for your teams or pre-designed for open enrollment cohorts—bring Johns Hopkins’ expertise and experience to your organization for just-in-time upskilling that enables your employees to tackle the most complex and pressing industry challenges. 

Additionally, Lifelong Learning provides a variety of educational options and modalities for working adults:  

Executive Education 

Executive education programs provide an intensive strategic and technical overview of an engineering topic over the span of one to four days. The target audience for these programs is leaders and managers in the industry. These programs are delivered in multiple modalities: virtual-live, in person at JHU’s conferencing facilities, and onsite at the partner institution’s location. Attendees earn 0.1 continuing education units (CEUs) per hour of instruction. 

Workshops 

Workshops provide an intensive technical overview of an engineering topic, technique(s), and/or software in one to four days. The target audience for these workshops is early and mid-career engineers. These workshops are delivered in multiple modalities: virtual-live, in person at JHU’s conferencing facilities, and onsite at the partner institution’s location. Attendees can earn 0.1 continuing education units (CEUs) per hour of instruction. 

Online courses and online programs 

Online courses are a response to the reskilling and upskilling need in the industry by addressing emerging and in-demand topics. These courses span four to 16 weeks and are delivered asynchronously. The target audience for these courses is early and mid-career engineers. Attendees can earn 0.1 continuing education units (CEUs) per hour of instruction. 

Coursera courses 

Learn the latest skills in engineering through Johns Hopkins Engineering courses offered through Coursera. Guided by experts, from Javascript for web developers to healthcare systems engineering, employees can build their skills conveniently. 

Choosing an executive education and professional development program may be the best decision you can make for your employees 

In 2024 and beyond, corporations must stay ahead of the curve and keep up with changing technologies and industry standards. Partnering with the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering Lifelong Learning for executive and professional education ensures that your employees are empowered to stay at the razor edge of constantly evolving fields in the following vital industries: 

• Cybersecurity 
• Artificial Intelligence  
• Data Science 
• Healthcare 
• General Engineering 
• Engineering Innovation 
• Engineering Management  

These intensive programs go beyond typical professional development and provide real-world and hard-won lessons taught by world-renowned faculty that prepare business leaders for tomorrow’s challenges.  

Reach out today or browse our course offerings and learn how our distinguished faculty can help your organization capture new opportunities and enable your employees to tackle the most complex and pressing industry challenges.