YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY

Springfield, MO

Log in Subscribe

Future Workforce Depends on Mentorship, Hands-on Experience
Mike Coonrod, sbjLive Producer

Future Workforce Depends on Mentorship, Hands-on Experience

Posted online

Mark Walker, a local CEO and a member of the Drury University Board of Trustees, says employers are increasingly seeking college graduates who have some kind of meaningful real-world, hands-on experience before graduation. And today’s students are seeking personalized guidance and mentorship in both their life and career in their college experience. The schools that are intentional about these needs will find their curriculums are more attractive to students and those students will be better prepared for the ever-changing world after they graduate. Walker explains that Drury University’s new Your Drury Fusion academic program is not only necessary, innovative and distinct – it’s also a talent attraction and retention tool for the region.  This is sponsored content.

Duration: 2:17

Video Transcription:

- Hi, I'm Mark Walker. I'm the CEO at TransLand, a Springfield-based over the road trucking company and I'm also a member of the Drury University Board of Trustees.

Your Drury Fusion is a dramatic innovation in the college experience that our students are really going to enjoy but it's going to have a lot of value for parents and employers as well.

A big part of it is that hands-on experience. We're going to guarantee that students get at least three hands-on experiences through their college career and that will include internships and research projects and community-based solutions work, teamwork. All of which provides a lot of value to an employer.

I believe hands-on experience is a real difference maker for employers, they find graduates who have a breadth of experience across all spectrums of life and they can apply that to the workplace immediately.

Another key component will be the mentoring that goes on through our Compass Center, created to guide a student from day one at Drury University, through graduation, on how to explore not only classes, curriculum, experiences, but how to think about life after graduation with careers or other opportunities.

My experience as being a mentor has taught me that students are looking for advice and counseling, maybe a sounding board. It's a real critical time for them and their life's journey and they've got lots of issues that they're balancing on their plate. They could just use some additional perspective and that perspective gain adds lots of value when they go into the workforce after graduation.

Attracting and retaining, innovative, creative talent is paramount for employers in the Springfield area. Your Drury Fusion makes that even more possible in the Ozarks as it becomes a partnership between the Drury community and the business community at large to bring life into Your Drury Fusion.

Comments

No comments on this story |
Please log in to add your comment
Editors' Pick
PBA tourney puts spotlight on Springfield

Tournament hosts say nationally televised PBA event puts area bowling on the map.

Most Read
SBJ.net Poll
How should the city's final ARPA funds be spent?

*

View results

Update cookies preferences