Cowboy Up: Upskilling today’s learners for the future of work

Stephanie Link

Faculty Fellow for Strategic Initiatives and Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics and Technology, Oklahoma State University

The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of EAB.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of work, the future demands a dynamic and adaptable workforce. Technological advancements, automation, and changing industry needs are reshaping job requirements. To thrive in this new era, upskilling is not just an option; it’s a necessity. Investing in continuous learning and embracing emerging technologies ensures employees remain relevant and competitive. Employers and individuals alike must recognize the importance of reskilling programs and professional development to bridge the gap between current skills and the demands of tomorrow’s jobs.

Cowboy Up is a signature initiative at Oklahoma State University that fosters a culture of lifelong learning by empowering the workforce to not only navigate change but to lead it. The initiative focuses on creating high-quality, industry-aligned pipelines from small to large credentials that can help students to upskill their core competencies and career readiness. The initiative involves bundling and certifying curricular experiences in the form of micro-credentials as students work up to a full degree, extending access to higher education and realizing its commitment to meeting workforce demands.

Cowboy Up will evolve the vision for how students can engage with higher education by amplifying opportunities that can holistically represent students’ educational experiences. To address this need, the two main goals of Cowboy Up are to:

1. Provide a viable and scalable, system-wide model across five OSU campuses for standalone and stackable credentialing that enables upskilling of career competencies en route to full degrees
2. Support faculty in deeply engaging industry leaders to develop new undergraduate and graduate academic programming for workforce and economic development

By investing in these goals, Cowboy Up could offer measurable improvements in student enrollment and degree completion, thereby heightening OSU’s brand equity. Cowboy Up can also foster equitable access to OSU education for traditional students, working professionals, parents, and career/degree transitioners who are expected to contribute to our society’s economic development, workforce capital, and leadership in organizations and communities both locally and globally.

The following describes core tactics that a newly formed Cowboy Up Taskforce will address to successfully implement the initiative.

Tactic #1: Develop quality standards

The Cowboy Up Taskforce will rely on quality content, services, and industry alignment that advance OSU’s land-grant mission to differentiate from other local, regional, and online programs. The task force will thus (1) develop guidelines for curricular mapping that can lead to high-quality, industry-aligned online programs, degrees, certificates, and degree pathways, (2) provide suggestions for tracking and reporting mechanisms, and (3) develop templates for memorandums of understanding between schools, departments, colleges, the university, and strategic industry partners.

Tactic #2: Conduct financial analysis

The Cowboy Up Taskforce will prioritize financial analysis in program development and assessment to compete with alternative providers and offset student enrollment challenges. The task force will thus (1) conduct an independent assessment of stackable degree viability (i.e., market demand, competitor analysis, cost/revenue), (2) demonstrate salary opportunities with variable off-ramp degree options, and (3) evaluate opportunities for industry-sponsored programming.

Tactic #3: Build new pipelines into existing programs and industries

The Cowboy Up Taskforce will establish a foundation for making stackability a reality to evolve the vision for how students can engage with higher education and build infrastructure to support lifelong learning. The task force will thus (1) build clear pathway examples to larger credentials, (2) build example business-to-business pipelines to and from an OSU degree, and (3) create alternative admission standards and processes for microcredential programs.

Tactic #4: Develop a faculty incentive program

The Cowboy Up Taskforce will establish faculty buy-in and support to enhance awareness and interest in Cowboy Up and identify potential collaborations. The task force will thus (1) offer roadshow presentations on developing stackable degree pathways to ensure that faculty propose viable concepts and (2) propose a plan for incentivizing faculty who develop new high-quality, industry-aligned content.

Tactic #5: Implement faculty incentive program

The Cowboy Up Taskforce will pilot the Cowboy Up Faculty Incentive Program with faculty who aim to strengthen Oklahoma’s workforce. The task force will thus (1) allocate funds to faculty to develop new undergraduate and graduate academic programming and (2) support them in submitting program proposals.

As we steer toward the future of education, alternative credentials are gaining momentum, endorsed by industry leaders. The Cowboy Up initiative stands as a beacon, championing innovative pathways to higher learning in our region. With increasing support, these alternative credentials are set to redefine traditional degrees, offering diverse and accessible avenues for skill acquisition. Embrace the change, stay ahead, and join us on this transformative journey towards a more inclusive and responsive higher education landscape. The future of credentials is here, and the Cowboy Up initiative is at the forefront, guiding the way.