Reimagining Adult Education

Miko Nino, Asst. VP for Adult and Online Education, Rhode Island College

Miko Nino is the Assistant Vice President for Adult and Online Education at Rhode Island College. He leads the development and redesign of online programs in partnership with academic departments and oversees the Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS). His work focuses on creating scalable, high-quality programs that align with industry needs and help students achieve meaningful career outcomes.

This exclusive feature recognizes Miko Nino’s innovative leadership and dedication to reimagining online education. It offers an in-depth look at how he’s reshaping the landscape of adult learning. With a clear vision and data-driven strategies, Nino is building programs that don’t just educate but empower.

Designing Career-Ready Online Programs

As the Assistant Vice President for Adult and Online Education at Rhode Island College, I serve as a strategic partner to academic departments interested in creating or redesigning online programs. Online learning is not just about digitizing content—it's a comprehensive system with multiple interconnected components. My responsibility is to ensure that all the necessary elements are in place to deliver a seamless and effective online learning experience.

One of the cornerstone initiatives under my leadership has been the Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS)—the college’s first fully online degree program tailored specifically for working adults. When I took on this role, I led a complete redesign of the program to make it sustainable, scalable and competitive. The guiding framework for the redesign was a 10-step model I developed, prioritizing both the learner’s academic success and long-term career readiness.

Every component of the BPS program, from curriculum structure to student support services, was reengineered to meet the needs of today’s adult learners. We focused on building a program that doesn't just confer a degree but also equips students with the skills and credentials they need to advance in their careers or shift into new professional pathways. This includes aligning the curriculum closely with current industry expectations and labor market demands.

At the same time, we’ve worked diligently to strengthen the program’s reputation and credibility. A degree holds value only when it earns employers' trust, which is why maintaining strong industry relationships and incorporating their feedback has been essential. My goal has always been to create online programs that are just as competitive and rigorous as traditional ones that resonate with students and employers.

The Challenges and Opportunities of Online Learning

Despite the growth of online education, many public institutions still face persistent challenges in fully understanding and implementing it effectively. One of the lingering issues is the widespread misconception about what constitutes genuine online learning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges rushed to deliver courses online, but the resulting experiences often lacked the structure, quality and support systems that define true online education.

“Online learning is not just about digitizing content—it's a comprehensive system with multiple interconnected components”

This confusion still affects how online programs are perceived and delivered. Institutions must ask themselves: Do we truly understand online learning? Are we following evidence-based best practices? Are our online offerings as rigorous and respected as their on-campus counterparts? Unfortunately, for many institutions, the answer is still “no.” And that gap in understanding can translate into negative perceptions among employers, who may view online degrees as inferior if they don’t reflect clear quality standards.

Another major challenge is the underutilization of artificial intelligence (AI). While AI is not new, its full potential remains untapped in higher education. Too often, it’s seen merely as a tool for automating tasks or generating content. But AI can—and should—play a transformative role in how institutions design, deliver and support online programs.

For instance, AI can drastically reduce the cost and complexity of market research, which is critical when designing new academic programs. It can also support curriculum development, enhance accessibility, streamline marketing and boost student engagement and retention. Institutions that fail to leverage AI holistically miss out on a powerful ally in creating more effective and responsive online education ecosystems.

A Future Built on Skills, Relevance and Inclusion

We’re entering a new era of adult and online education—one defined by relevance, flexibility and equity. In the next five years, we’ll see many institutions offer short-format, high-impact programs designed for adults balancing work, family and education. Many of these programs will follow a seven-week online model and focus on rapidly evolving industries.

We’re also witnessing a major shift in how employers evaluate candidates. While traditional degrees still hold value, employers are increasingly focused on specific skills and competencies. As a result, micro-credentials and competency-based learning models are becoming more prominent. These tools allow students to demonstrate exactly what they can do in a given job context, something that matters more and more in today’s competitive workforce.

At Rhode Island College, we’re actively working to ensure our programs reflect this shift. We're developing curricula for emerging fields like AI, cybersecurity and data analytics. I foresee new programs exploring the intersection of these disciplines—areas still taking shape but will soon be vital to the economy.

My advice for professionals in this field is simple: stay curious and connected. Follow what’s happening in your industry and in adjacent industries like business, hybrid education and software engineering. Subscribe to newsletters, join professional networks and attend conferences. These actions will help you stay ahead of trends and make informed, forward-thinking decisions.

Finally, while innovation is essential, inclusion must remain a core focus. Many students and institutions are still catching up when it comes to accessing quality online education. We can’t forget that part of our mission is to extend opportunity to those who’ve historically been left out. As we push toward the future, we must bring everyone with us.

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