JENNIFER STINE, Executive Director, Professional Educational Programs, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
MARTHA PIPER, President Emeritus, University of British Columbia

    The private sector and higher education are both struggling to develop new organizational models in response to challenges, such as new technologies, demographic shifts, and a globalized economy. Continuing higher education organizations are aligning their programs with the missions of their parent institutions and simultaneously trying to capitalize on continuing education’s special capacity for innovation. Sophisticated administrators are needed by contemporary complex university organizational structures, yet too few institutions make development of administrative talent a priority. Meanwhile, there is increased appreciation that competitiveness in a global economy depends on the capacity to build and maintain a highly skilled workforce. Continuing education organizations are being counted upon to play a larger role in advancing regional economic development agendas. This seminar will explore how continuing higher education organizations and professionals in the field are changing to remain effective in the face of new conditions.