Continuing education leaders are navigating a rapidly shifting landscape. More learners are seeking flexible learning opportunities, employers are prioritizing skills-based hiring, and institutions are under pressure to offer workforce-aligned learning experiences. But delivering scalable, high-quality continuing education programs isn’t as simple as launching more courses. Institutions must create seamless learner journeys, design credential pathways that hold real value, and integrate technology that supports both learners and administrators. So how can institutions stand out in a crowded market, create meaningful pathways, and engage lifelong learners effectively?
Continuing education leaders from Jones College’s Online Workforce College (OWC), University of St. Andrews, and TIAS Business School shared their strategies in our recent webinar. Here’s how leading institutions are navigating these challenges and setting themselves apart.
1. Meeting the Needs of Lifelong Learners: Tailoring Programs for Accessibility and Engagement
Lifelong learners differ from traditional students – they’re balancing work, family, and other commitments, often seeking career advancement, while others are looking for skill-building or personal enrichment. Institutions need a clear strategy to meet the needs of lifelong learners while differentiating themselves in a crowded market.
At the University of St. Andrews, flexibility is at the core of their approach. “We knew we were entering an already crowded market,” shared Sarah Franke, Head of Digital Strategic Initiatives. “Instead of competing with large-scale online providers, we focused on delivering the St. Andrews experience into the online space – leading academics, a personalized approach, and high-quality niche short courses.”
Meanwhile, Jones College’s Online Workforce College takes a different approach by focusing on accessibility for underserved learners. “Instead of them trying to get to us, we decided to bring competency-based, skills-focused, self-paced online learning to them,” said Michael Trest, Dean of Jones College’s OWC. “We found that people, like a mother working at a retail store who can’t afford traditional college or commit to fixed schedules, were being missed. Our model ensures they can build skills in short, manageable steps that lead to real job opportunities.“
Watch the video snippet below to hear more from Michael Trest about how OWC is bridging the gap for learners who have been traditionally overlooked:
Meanwhile, TIAS Business School differentiates itself by offering highly personalized executive education tailored to professionals at different career stages, ensuring that learners can access content that aligns with their immediate and long-term goals.
The key takeaway? Institutions that embrace flexibility, offer personalized learning experiences, and create multiple entry points for learners are more likely to attract and retain lifelong learners.
2. Building Non-Credit to Credit Pathways: Making Learning Stackable and Recognized
Non-credit programs provide valuable learning experiences, but how can institutions ensure these experiences hold weight in the job market? The challenge is not just offering courses but structuring them in a way that learners can build upon them toward more formal credentials.
Jones College’s Online Workforce College has built a model focused on making learning accessible and stackable. “We saw a gap – people who needed upskilling but couldn’t commit to traditional programs,” said Michael Trest, Dean of Jones College’s OWC. “Instead of forcing them into rigid degree pathways, we designed short, self-paced modules that stack into credentials, helping learners demonstrate competencies to employers.”
Beyond offering standalone microcredentials, OWC integrates skills competencies into for-credit courses. This ensures that learners don’t just leave with a transcript but with a “wallet of skills credentials” that they can take to employers as proof of their learning and experience.
Watch the video snippet below to hear Michael Trest explain how OWC helps learners, especially those who can’t afford traditional education, gain skills that boost their confidence and open doors to better job opportunities.
At the University of St. Andrews, the approach to credentialing is still evolving. “We are really working to offer a selection of courses that can provide an on-ramp to more substantial programs,” said Franke. “Learners might take a short non-credit course and then realize they want to go deeper, eventually transitioning into a full degree program.” By designing courses with modularity in mind, St. Andrews is creating clearer pathways for learners to move between non-credit and for-credit education.
TIAS Business School applies a similar philosophy, embedding stackable pathways within its business programs so that learners can accumulate credentials that contribute to larger degree programs.
For continuing education leaders, this means designing credentials that are modular, transparent, and recognized by employers – helping learners see the long-term value of their education.
3. Overcoming Technical Challenges: Creating a Smooth Learning Experience
One of the biggest challenges institutions face in scaling online and professional continuing education is integrating technology to streamline operations and maximize ROI in a competitive market. Without the right tech infrastructure, institutions risk facing administrative overload, disconnected learning platforms, poor data management, and a frustrating enrollment process.
At the University of St. Andrews, the solution was to implement a separate tech stack specifically for non-traditional learners, allowing for easier enrollment, access, and learner tracking. “We needed an infrastructure that supported multiple intakes and flexible learning” explained Franke. “For both on-site and non-credit bearing online learners, we chose to have two completely separate systems to ensure a smooth learner experience from start to finish. It was essential that learners could come to the website, click on the course, and buy it right there – without having to deal with any complicated steps.“.
Watch the video snippet below to hear Sarah Franke explain how St. Andrews ensures a seamless learner experience with a dedicated tech stack for non-credit learners.
In contrast, TIAS opted to unify all course offerings – both credit and non-credit – within a single system, simplifying administration while maintaining a seamless learner experience. “We wanted to avoid fragmentation and ensure that every learner, regardless of program type, could navigate our offerings within one cohesive system,” said Marijn Veijgen, Manager of IT Innovation at TIAS.
Jones College took a more integrated approach, leveraging existing systems to create an accessible, skills-based learning ecosystem. “Since our online workforce programs are built around competency-based, self-paced learning, we needed a system that allows seamless enrollment while also tracking learners’ progress through stackable credentials,” said Michael Trest, Dean of Jones College’s OWC. “We use Eduframe with Canvas and Salesforce to manage everything from enrollment to credential issuance, so learners can take their badges and certificates straight to employers with confidence.“
The lesson? Without a well-integrated tech stack, institutions risk fragmented processes, disjointed learner experiences, and operational inefficiencies. A strategic approach to technology ensures that enrollment, learner management, and credentialing work together seamlessly, reducing administrative burden and improving the learner experience.
Whether institutions choose separate systems for online and professional continuing education or integrate traditional and non-traditional education into a cohesive tech stack, the goal should be to eliminate technical gaps that could hinder learner journey. As continuing education expands, institutions that prioritize technology integration will be better equipped to scale efficiently, support lifelong learners, and drive real impact. Institutions that fail to integrate their systems effectively risk inefficiencies, data silos, and administrative bottlenecks that impact both learner experience and operational effectiveness.
4.Engaging Lifelong Learners: Building Long-Term Connections and Community
Lifelong learners don’t just want content – they want community, relevance, and ongoing value. Institutions that successfully engage learners beyond the initial course experience are the ones that will build long-term loyalty.
TIAS, for instance, invests in networking opportunities and alumni engagement to keep learners connected to their institution. “We see executive education as a continuous journey, not a one-time transaction,” said Marijn Veijgen, Manager of IT Innovation at TIAS. “Offering a strong community and ongoing touchpoints is key to keeping learners engaged.”
At the University of St. Andrews, creating a sense of belonging and using a personal approach is key to engagement. ‘We want online learners to feel like they’re getting the St. Andrews experience, even if they’re not on campus” explained Sarah Franke. “Providing asynchronous content together with synchronous elements, such as masterclasses with academics, helps create engagement with the people who designed the course and deepens the learning experience.”
Watch the video snippet below to hear Sarah Franke explain how St. Andrews fosters engagement through interactive and personalized learning.
Meanwhile, Jones College uses a CRM to track and maintain relationships with learners, ensuring they receive relevant follow-ups, job placement support, and continued learning opportunities. “The OWC is a support initiative for Jones College which allows us to embed “how-to-life” courses into our for-credit orientation course,” said Michael Trest. “It’s also available as a service to other institutions and employers. For example, we have goals for prison populations. If a learner completes a pathway and earns a badge, can they at least secure a job interview by displaying that badge?” This approach, supported by APIs and a programmatic framework, allows Jones College’s OWC to keep interactions personal through their CRM, while also ensuring that the learning is accessible to anyone who needs it.
For institutions looking to strengthen their connection with lifelong learners, the strategy is clear: foster engagement through personalization, community-building, and ongoing value beyond a single course. A strategic approach to lifelong learner engagement ensures that learners not only complete their courses but continue returning for new opportunities, strengthening institutional impact and brand loyalty.
The Future of Lifelong Learning: Adaptability is the Key to Success
As lifelong learning continues to evolve, institutions that prioritize flexibility, technology integration, and employer-aligned credentials will be best positioned to meet lifelong learner needs. By addressing common challenges – creating personalized programs, stacking credentials, streamlining technology, and fostering long-term engagement – continuing education leaders can create learning experiences that meet diverse needs of lifelong learners.
Eduframe supports continuing education institutions in overcoming these challenges by helping you enroll more non-traditional learners, provide the most engaging online experiences, and save your staff time by automating manual processes.
To see how these strategies are being successfully applied, watch our on-demand webinar, “Expanding Access to Lifelong Learning: Insights from 3 Global Institutions That Successfully Scaled Their Continuing Education Offerings.”
Fill out the form to access the full recording and learn directly from experts at Jones College’s Online Workforce College (OWC), University of St. Andrews, and TIAS Business School as they share their insights on scaling lifelong learning programs effectively.
