Improving Higher Education
Gil Gilead
Student I.D.802008629
BUS 9551 SFB
May 11, 2012
Improving Higher Education Cost Efficiency with Technology and Program Accountability
Executive Summary: In the last two decades college costs have risen by 429 percent, a rate higher than the increase rate for health care (Sheets, 2012). To encourage colleges to increase value and efficiency, the government is offering $55 million in grant money to colleges which can reduce costs for students (Cooper, 2012). In the past twenty years, cost reduction solutions have overlooked factors that have prevented colleges from taking full advantage of the possibility to reduce college costs while improving the college educational experience for students. The two most dominant factors are technology and program accountability (Miller, 2009). How can colleges today take these factors into consideration and sustainably reduce their costs?
First, ABC Consulting guides academic institutions to reduce costs using technology. Historical research demonstrates the relevance of purchasing technology for restructuring higher education (Guskin, 1994). Today, cost reduction stems less from technological purchases and more from a combination of technological implementation and appropriate business models. ABC’s complete consulting package includes business models to harness technological innovation which results in scalability in higher education. ABC’s proven success in consulting allows colleges to leverage their information on a student in order to provide the best possible alternatives that will reduce unnecessary course load and educational costs. ABC serves as the mediator for outsourcing curriculum development.
Through outsourcing partnerships, personalized programs can be met and customized to meet the needs of specific student segments best fitting learning styles and preferences. Focusing on customizing a specialized global curriculum for gateway courses and prerequisites, ABC consults in centralizing
Student I.D.802008629
BUS 9551 SFB
May 11, 2012
Improving Higher Education Cost Efficiency with Technology and Program Accountability
Executive Summary: In the last two decades college costs have risen by 429 percent, a rate higher than the increase rate for health care (Sheets, 2012). To encourage colleges to increase value and efficiency, the government is offering $55 million in grant money to colleges which can reduce costs for students (Cooper, 2012). In the past twenty years, cost reduction solutions have overlooked factors that have prevented colleges from taking full advantage of the possibility to reduce college costs while improving the college educational experience for students. The two most dominant factors are technology and program accountability (Miller, 2009). How can colleges today take these factors into consideration and sustainably reduce their costs?
First, ABC Consulting guides academic institutions to reduce costs using technology. Historical research demonstrates the relevance of purchasing technology for restructuring higher education (Guskin, 1994). Today, cost reduction stems less from technological purchases and more from a combination of technological implementation and appropriate business models. ABC’s complete consulting package includes business models to harness technological innovation which results in scalability in higher education. ABC’s proven success in consulting allows colleges to leverage their information on a student in order to provide the best possible alternatives that will reduce unnecessary course load and educational costs. ABC serves as the mediator for outsourcing curriculum development.
Through outsourcing partnerships, personalized programs can be met and customized to meet the needs of specific student segments best fitting learning styles and preferences. Focusing on customizing a specialized global curriculum for gateway courses and prerequisites, ABC consults in centralizing
Cited: Bailey, T. (2003) (Retrieved on April 10) Outsourcing of Instruction at Community Colleges . Manuscript submitted for publication, School of Education, Stanford, California. 2012 from http://www.stanford.edu/group/ncpi/documents/pdfs/CCRC pub.pdf Cooper, H. (2012, January 27) (Retrieved on January 28, 2012). Obama calls for overhaul of financial aid. The New York Times. Retrieved fromhttp://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/in-michigan-obama-calls-for-overhaul-of-financial-aid/?ref=politics Guskin, A. E (1994) (Retrieved on April 15, 2012), Reducing Student Costs and Enhancing Student Learning, Change 26 (4), 22. Miller, C (2009) (Retrieved on April 20, 2012) .Take a Hard Look at Academic Programs, and Weed Out the Weak. Chronicle of Higher Education; 56 (3), 14. Sheets, R. (2012, March 28) (Retrieved on April 27, 2012). Steps toward a disruptive innovation approach to understanding and improving Higher education outcomes. Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/87059861/Rethinking-Higher-Education-Business-Models