A growing number of companies are now opting for flexible training courses that allow executives to attend sessions as per their comfort
Continuous learning is essential in the business world to keep up with the constantly changing landscape. Executive education programs provide tailored courses to meet the specific needs of professionals and organisations. The demand for such courses is global and not limited to specific industries or regions.
Upskilling employees to adapt to new technologies and building leadership and management skills to tackle organizational changes are some examples of the specific challenges that executives face. A skills-based approach can make an organization achieve greater diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) advantages. Providing the right opportunities and enabling employees to learn skills that the company finds necessary for its future growth can help employees grow individually and the organisation collectively.
Flexible training courses that allow learners to attend sessions as per their comfort, and choose offline, on-campus, or online learning options are being preferred by corporates. As an executive, every individual and their organisation needs to focus on upskilling and reskilling. Deeper analytical insights can be provided by executive learning programs apart from the skills that are in demand.
With digital automation making existing technologies go obsolete rapidly, upskilling or reskilling can also be instrumental in ensuring that a person remains relevant and effective in the current role, even in the future. As per a global study by Deloitte, about 86% of organizations are aware of this need, but just 10% find themselves ready to address them.
The need for executive education programs is growing as businesses face rapid changes in technology and the global market. Executives need to continually upgrade their skills and knowledge to keep up with the demands of their industry. Organizations are looking for courses that are not only relevant to their industry but also address the specific challenges they are facing, such as upskilling employees to adapt to new technologies or building leadership and management skills to tackle organisational changes. With digital automation making existing technologies obsolete rapidly, upskilling or reskilling can also be instrumental in ensuring that a person remains relevant and effective in their current and future roles.
To stay ahead of the curve, businesses need to identify the right skill sets that will keep their workforce proficient and in sync with evolving technologies such as AI automation and SaaS-driven activities. Flexible training courses that allow learners to attend sessions as per their comfort, and choose offline, on-campus, or online learning options are being preferred by corporates.
Executives themselves feel the need to retain their competitive edge and acquire skills that will help them take up new and more complex leadership roles in the times ahead. By joining learning and development programs aimed at specific areas, employees can acquire skills that make them leaders in their areas of expertise and achieve better growth in terms of corporate hierarchy and remuneration. To achieve greater diversity, equity and inclusivity advantages, organizations should focus on providing opportunities for employees to learn skills that the company finds necessary for its future growth. Executive learning programs can provide deeper analytical insights apart from the skills that are in demand.
In conclusion, executive education is necessary to keep up with the ever-changing business landscape. Organizations must identify the right skill sets and provide flexible training courses to keep their workforce proficient and in sync with evolving technologies. Executives themselves need to focus on upskilling and reskilling to retain their competitive edge.
(The writer is Vice Chancellor, Mahindra University)