When Education Meets Industry: Designing Learning That Actually Solves Business Problems

Amy Wartham, Director of Corporate Training and Executive Education, the University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Amy Wartham is the Director of Corporate Training and Executive Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. With more than 2 decades of expertise in all aspect of adult learning and corporate training, her background encompasses the ability to establish and build positive relationship with corporate clients and all levels of management.

Wartham specializes in leadership development, communication, and workforce solutions, helping organizations align talent, strategy, and performance through practical, high impact education programmers. In an exclusive interview with Education Technology Insights, Wartham shares her perspective on how education is evolving to better align with industry needs.

For decades, education and industry have worked toward the same goal from opposite sides of the table: preparing people to perform, grow, and succeed. Yet too often, learning experiences are created in isolation from the real challenges organizations face. The result? Well-designed programs that look good on paper but fail to move the needle where it matters most... on the job.

When education truly meets industry, learning shifts from theoretical to transformational. It stops being about content delivery and starts being about problem-solving.

The Disconnect Between Learning and Work

One of the most common frustrations voiced by employers is that training doesn’t always translate into performance. Employees attend workshops, complete courses, and earn certificates - yet the business challenges that prompted the training remain unresolved. This disconnect usually stems from a fundamental design flaw: learning is built around topics instead of outcomes.

Industry doesn’t need more information. It needs capability. Leaders want teams who can navigate change, apply new technologies, communicate effectively, and make sound decisions under pressure. When education providers fail to understand the context in which learning will be applied, even the most engaging programs can fall short.

Start With the Business Problem, Not the Curriculum

Effective industry-aligned learning begins by asking better questions. Instead of “What should we teach?” the more powerful question is “What problem are we trying to solve?”

Is the organization struggling with the adoption of new technology? Is growth being limited by leadership readiness? Are managers promoted faster than their skills develop? These are business problems - not academic ones - and they should drive learning design from the start.

"When education truly meets industry, learning shifts from theoretical to transformational."

When educators partner with industry leaders early in the process, they gain insight into operational realities, performance gaps, and strategic priorities. This collaboration ensures learning objectives are not abstract but directly tied to measurable outcomes.

Co-Creation Is the Secret Sauce

The most impactful programs are co-created, not simply delivered. Industry leaders bring real-world challenges, data, and expectations. Educators bring learning science, structure, and facilitation expertise. Together, they create experiences that are relevant, practical, and immediately applicable.

This co-creation process often includes:

• Custom case studies based on real organizational scenarios.

• Role plays and simulations that mirror workplace dynamics.

• Projects that require participants to apply learning directly to their roles.

When learners see their daily challenges reflected in the learning experience, engagement skyrockets and so does retention.

Technology as an Enabler, Not the Star

Education technology plays a powerful role in bridging education and industry, but only when used intentionally. Learning platforms, AI tools, and digital collaboration spaces should support application and reflection - not distract from them.

For example, AI can help personalize learning paths, surface insights from data, or provide real-time feedback. Collaboration tools can enable peer learning across departments or locations. However, technology should never replace the human elements that make learning stick: discussion, coaching, reflection, and trust.

The goal is not to use the newest tool...it’s to use the right tool to solve the right problem.

Measuring What Matters

Another common pitfall is evaluating learning success based on attendance or satisfaction alone. While these metrics have value, they don’t tell the whole story. Industry-aligned learning must be measured by impact.

Meaningful evaluation looks at:

• Changes in behavior on the job

• Improvements in performance or productivity

• Increased confidence and decision-making capability

• Alignment with strategic business goals

When education partners help organizations define success metrics upfront, learning becomes an investment - not an expense.

A Shared Responsibility for the Future

As technology evolves and the pace of change accelerates, the line between education and industry will continue to blur. Lifelong learning is no longer optional, and neither side can do it alone.

Educational institutions must remain agile, responsive, and deeply connected to workforce realities. Industry leaders must view learning as a strategic lever, not a one-time event. Together, they can design experiences that don’t just educate, but rather, empower.

When education meets industry with intention, curiosity, and collaboration, learning stops being an abstract exercise. It becomes a powerful solution to real business problems and a catalyst for sustainable growth.

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