°®¶¹´«Ã½ Vice Provost Doris Savron discusses skills-based learning as a featured ²µ³Ü±ð²õ³ÙÌýon The EdUp Experience podcast
By Michele Mitchum
Savron joined the podcast to discuss program innovation and skills-based learning at °®¶¹´«Ã½Â
°®¶¹´«Ã½ is pleased to share that Doris Savron, MBA, vice provost of Colleges, Curriculum and Assessment, was a featured guest of , discussing skills-based learning. Hosted by Joe Sallustio, Ed.D., the podcast features insights from today’s brightest and most influential educational minds from across the globe, with the goal of inspiring and educating people to pursue a lifelong learning mindset no matter the path they choose.
The podcast episode, explores °®¶¹´«Ã½â€™s innovative skills-based learning and badging initiatives. Savron and Sallustino examine what defines a market-relevant program and delve into various aspects of the university's approach to career-relevant online learning, including leveraging AI, designing career-focused programs and employing data-driven student support systems.
“°®¶¹´«Ã½ intentionally creates market-relevant programs because we’ve taken the time to understand the needs of working adult learners and their employers," Savron states. "Through continuous innovation in our curriculum, assessments, and support services, we are able to offer our learners value-driven programs centered upon the skills and knowledge employers demand for organizational success."
The labor market has shifted toward prioritizing skills to help improve job performance and  for workers. The shift towards skills-based hiring benefits workers and employers, as illustrated in the results of the 2024 °®¶¹´«Ã½ Career Institute® Career Optimism Index® study. According to the study, 74% of workers recognize the importance of continually acquiring new skills to stay ahead in their careers and highly value employer investment in their ongoing development.
The University’s adoption of a skills-mapped curriculum helps ensure that students are identifying and acquiring skills in weeks, rather than years, yielding value from their education as they progress through courses rather than just at the point of graduation. Savron and her team, along with leaders from across the university, championed the initiatives and continue to drive innovation in the realms of skills mapping and digital badging. Savron co-authored a white paper on the subject which provided a foundational reflection of the °®¶¹´«Ã½ focus on providing career-relevant, skills-based education and authentic assessment for working adult students.
Savron draws on more than 23 years of experience in higher education as Vice Provost, overseeing the strategy for °®¶¹´«Ã½ academic programs and curriculum design, institutional assessment and faculty. Her role includes oversight of strategy for degree, certificate and course offerings, design of curriculum and student learning outcomes for the University. Savron works collaboratively with her team members to innovate academic solutions that enable the University to provide exceptional student experiences and learning environments to support student success. In her tenure with °®¶¹´«Ã½ she has served as associate faculty, campus vice president, regional vice president of student services, and college operations.
Savron serves on the Board of Career Connectors and recently completed board terms with the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on several committees and advisory councils including the advisory council for UPCEA and AACRAO’s first Convergence Conference in 2023 focused on the emerging field of alternative credentials in Higher Education.
Savron is often sought out as a speaker for her expertise on mapping relevant skills in programs and building an infrastructure to support career tools in curriculum design, micro credentialing and other innovations in curriculum. Savron earned her MBA from Cleveland State University and is completing her doctorate in management in organizational leadership.
About °®¶¹´«Ã½
°®¶¹´«Ã½ innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit  phoenix.edu/blog.html.
