The Future in Session

Oklahoma’s higher education landscape is in the midst of a quiet transformation, driven by shifting workforce demands, advanced artificial intelligence technology and a renewed focus on innovation. Colleges and universities statewide are rethinking how they educate students, strategically partnering with businesses and preparing their graduates for an uncertain future. We explore just a few ways they’re swiftly adapting – whether that’s embracing the perks of skills-based learning or fostering entrepreneurship through a dynamic curriculum.

In response to a major shift in the approach to knowledge, employability and learning, Oklahoma colleges and universities are reshaping some of their degree plans to include opportunities to gain job-specific skills and experience to accompany a diploma. 

“As the workforce increasingly values practical, demonstrable skills over traditional degrees alone, colleges are adapting by integrating skills-based education into their offerings,” says Mautra Staley Jones, Ed.D., president of Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC). OCCC has expanded its micro-credential programs, allowing students to earn industry-recognized credentials in high-demand fields. 

“These bite-sized certifications, often in partnership with employers, enable students to develop job-ready competencies quickly,” Jones says. 

OCCC is the state’s largest provider of micro-credentials, granting nearly 18,000 in the last 18 months, she adds.

Tulsa Community College (TCC) is also working with local employers to get graduates job-ready more efficiently than ever before. 

“TCC works with local employers to offer students training that aligns with industry standards and leads directly to jobs,” says Pete Selden, Ed.D., vice president of workforce development at TCC. “We also offer stackable micro-credentials that allow students to gain specific … skills in a shorter and flexible timeframe.”

As employers look to prioritize hands-on experience, technical fluency and job-ready certifications, Oklahoma State University (OSU) has expanded OSU Polytech, a workforce-driven initiative offering more than 60 programs across OSUIT, OSU-OKC, OSU-Tulsa and online platforms.

“What makes OSU Polytech uniquely powerful is that it isn’t merely reacting to workforce trends, it is actively shaping them in partnership with Oklahoma’s employers,” says Kyle Wray, senior vice president of system affairs for the university.

Wray says OSU has taken an economy-driven approach to the issue and turned it into opportunity.

“Each year, nearly 10,000 Oklahoma high school graduates transition directly into the workforce without earning a degree or certification – a statistic that highlights a significant opportunity gap, not just for individuals, but for the state’s economy,” he says.

Students often cite barriers such as cost, family obligations, geographic constraints or a lack of interest in traditional academic paths, Wray adds.

OSU Polytech is designed to meet students where they are – geographically, financially and academically, offering over 60 programs across all campuses and online.

At Northeastern State University (NSU), Carla Swearingen, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, says her institution is focused on providing education for students that will lead to careers in the state and region. 

“While it is true that not every job requires a degree, the majority of the critical occupations in Oklahoma do,” Swearingen says. “These are also the jobs that tend to provide higher salaries, which helps students, their families and the communities they live in and thrive. NSU regularly works with local businesses and tribal partners to assess their workforce needs and ensure that our educational offerings are relevant.” 

In addition to offering critical occupation majors, NSU provides a wide variety of micro-credentials and certificates that help upskill employees. All of these measures help us retain a talented workforce in the area and grow the economy, too.

Applied learning experiences, such as internships, apprenticeships and capstone projects, enable students to showcase real-world experience, OCCC’s Jones says. 

“Strong advisory boards composed of industry professionals help align the curriculum with evolving workforce needs, ensuring students graduate with both knowledge and employability,” she concludes.

Oklahoma’s educational institutions are fostering partnerships with businesses to enhance student opportunities and drive economic growth.

In a move to position Oklahoma as a hub for advanced manufacturing, OSU’s Hamm Institute for American Energy has partnered with Divergent Technologies Inc. to accelerate the adoption of next-generation manufacturing processes in the state. 

“This partnership not only brings cutting-edge technology to Oklahoma,” Wray says, “but also creates opportunities for OSU students to engage with transformative manufacturing practices.”

Divergent’s Adaptive Production System leverages AI-driven design, additive manufacturing and robotic assembly to produce high-performance structures more efficiently than traditional
methods.

OSU’s Hamm Institute for American Energy has partnered with SK E&S, a leading South Korean energy company, to advance energy research and innovation. This multimillion-dollar, five-year collaboration focuses on energy policy and security, with SK E&S funding research grants and joining the Hamm Institute Advisory Board.

“Through these and other strategic partnerships, OSU is not only responding to the current needs of industries but also proactively shaping the future workforce,” Wray says. “By integrating practical experiences into its educational programs, the university ensures that its graduates are well-equipped to meet the demands of a dynamic job market.”

TCC also has established strong partnerships throughout the college, with one example being in the healthcare field. 

“We partner with local providers to give our students clinical experience right in the community,” Sweden says. “In turn, our healthcare partners benefit from a strong pipeline of well-prepared healthcare graduates who are ready to join the workforce.”

In the manufacturing sector, TCC recently partnered with DMI Industries, a global manufacturer of air duct systems and components with a facility in Wagoner. 

“As part of the partnership, TCC developed two micro-credential programs, Lean Manufacturing and Industry 4.0,” Selden says. “More than a dozen DMI employees from both the Wagoner and Pittsburgh, Penn., facilities completed the programs.”

The University of Oklahoma (OU) has built a dynamic range of partnerships with businesses to create transformative opportunities for students and measurable impact for companies, according to Danielle Dunn, assistant vice president and director of communications and marketing for the division of enrollment management. 

“In the Michael F. Price College of Business, we offer the Tom Love Scholars with Love’s Travel Stops, the Business Consulting Practicum and Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth’s (I-CCEW) data-driven, growth strategy projects,” Dunn says. “Students engage in high-impact learning while businesses benefit from fresh insights and strategic solutions.” 

Collaborations with companies like Deloitte, Northrop Grumman, 7-Eleven and RealFoundations have led to internships and full-time roles, while initiatives like the Pathways to Price program and the First Fidelity Bank Integrated Business Core prepare students for successful careers in business. 

“Partnerships across different areas, such as finance, accounting, entrepreneurship and innovation, equip students with real-world experience, leadership development and industry access, while helping companies cultivate top talent and drive growth in Oklahoma’s economy,” Dunn says.

Strategic partnerships are one of OCCC’s greatest strengths as well, Jones says.

“Our healthcare partnerships with local hospitals have led to clinical placement pipelines and job offers for students before graduation. Through tech collaborations, students get access to real-world tools and mentorships, such as those with Alias Forensics, Bob Moore Chevrolet, the City of Oklahoma City, the City of Edmond, the Department of Defense, Dell OKC and Eskridge Honda.”

The integration of AI is reshaping how students learn, how educators teach and how institutions operate in a rapidly changing landscape.

From personalized learning opportunities and faculty empowerment to privacy concerns, academic integrity apprehensions and over-reliance on AI to function, the list of pros and cons is both exciting and daunting. 

“TCC views AI as a tool that can support student learning and our work as educators, but not as a replacement for the human element,” Selden says. “AI has the potential to personalize learning and help faculty manage time-consuming tasks. At the same time, concerns include the over-reliance on AI and its ethical use. Moving forward, we believe students and educators need to be AI-literate to understand what these tools are capable of and when their use is, or is not, appropriate.”

Swearingen says NSU also believes in the power of AI – when used for good.

“The world of artificial intelligence has evolved so quickly that most higher education institutions are just trying to keep up,” she says. “There is tremendous power in utilizing AI, particularly with sorting through large amounts of data that would require unrealistic human hours. However, as with any new and evolving technology, there need to be ethical boundaries in place.” 

Jones says OCCC holds incredible promise for AI’s role in higher education, and is approaching its integration with both enthusiasm and caution. Some of the pros, she says, are personalized learning pathways that adapt to each student’s pace and strengths, predictive analytics that help identify at-risk students and intervene early, as well as administrative efficiency to free up faculty for more meaningful student engagement.

“We’re also mindful of the cons, such as data privacy risks tied to AI-driven platforms, the danger of over-reliance on technology at the expense of human connection and judgment and equity gaps if AI tools are not accessible to all students,” Jones said. “Moving forward, we are piloting AI tools within tightly regulated frameworks, pairing machine intelligence with faculty oversight and ethical training to ensure that human values remain central to the educational experience.”

Oklahoma colleges and universities are increasingly becoming hubs of innovation and entrepreneurism by providing students, faculty and alumni with the resources and environments needed to launch and grow startups.

One way OU’s Price College of Business is unique is that it has its own entrepreneurship department.

“We recognize the importance of entrepreneurship in that it’s become its own academic division,” says Keith Brigham, Ph..D., director of OU’s Tom Love Division of Entrepreneurism and Economic Development. “We offer a major, a minor and this year, we started a brand new Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. So we’ve got a lot of established programs in entrepreneurship.”

Students come to the program, he says, with either an idea that they want to develop more or just a passion for entrepreneurship.

“We teach them the skills to help them succeed. But entrepreneurship is also a mindset,” he says. “It’s not just a particular set of business skills, but it’s also the ability to identify opportunities and recognize those opportunities, evaluate those opportunities and then pursue them.”

Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit is crucial for both job creators and job seekers, OCCC’s Jones says. 

“OCCC supports this through the Career Success and Workforce Development Division, which provides students with the resources, guidance and support they need to navigate their career paths successfully,” she says. “Whether a student wants to launch a nonprofit, start a small business or innovate within a larger company, we are committed to cultivating creativity, initiative and problem-solving skills across all disciplines.”

TCC encourages entrepreneurship and innovation by providing practical learning, modern facilities and strong faculty support. 

“Two TCC students were recently selected as the only finalists from Oklahoma in the AACC Community College Innovation Challenge,” senior vice president and chief academic officer Angela Sivadon, Ph.D. says. “Under the guidance of a faculty mentor, they designed a smart-home drone delivery system and earned a spot at an innovation boot camp in Washington, D.C. We also have a student-led combat robotics team, founded by engineering students and advised by our Fabrication Lab manager, that is growing thanks to campus recruitment and community events.”

TCC offers a variety of classes and clubs that promote problem-solving, critical thinking and entrepreneurial skills across disciplines, Sivadon adds. 

“We also recently opened applications for the fourth cohort of the Cox Small Business Leadership Academy, supported by Cox Communications,” Sivadon says. “This program helps small business owners learn about marketing, finance and management to improve their businesses.”

Main image cutline: Partnerships between OU and area businesses help students gain hands-on experience before  graduation. Photo courtesy OU