Navigating the Future of Education: Challenges, Innovations, and Technological Trends in Higher Learning

Becky Vasquez, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Becky Vasquez, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Becky Vasquez currently serves as the Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, situated in Daytona Beach, Florida. Vasquez is the driving force behind the overall technology vision, mission, and strategy for the university. She has almost two decades of experience in the field of information technology and has expertise in instructional technologies, enterprise computing, and research support. She has been a member of educational software corporation advisory boards and regularly participates in industry wide activities that support the community and advancement of technology in education.

What are some of the major challenges and trends that have been impacting the education space lately?

The challenges facing education today are not novel, with longstanding issues such as the rising cost of education and student debt, meeting enrollment targets, integrating industry requirements into curricula, and expanding access to diverse educational opportunities. Another challenge that has been evolving since the pandemic is talent management, including staff recruitment and retention. While layoffs have been commonplace in the technology industry recently, particularly among large tech firms, many of these can be attributed to periods of over-hiring. From an information technology perspective, sourcing top talent remains a priority. It is essential to recognize that higher education competes with other industries for talent in specific fields, such as information technology. Addressing this competition can be achieved through fair salary assessments, comprehensive benefits packages, flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, clear career paths, and a focus on tangible initiatives that foster a positive culture.

What keeps you up at night when it comes to some of the major predicaments in the education space?

Although facing challenges can cause anxiety, they also present opportunities for innovation. Personally, I spend my sleepless nights brainstorming ways to overcome obstacles. Instead of waiting for problems to resolve themselves, we must develop new ideas and strategies to tackle them. As a CIO, I, along with other leaders in higher education, place significant emphasis on information security. I take comfort in knowing that our team consists of skilled experts with diverse technical backgrounds and experience, and that we have established multiple layers of protection and detection. In the event of a security incident, I am confident that our team has the necessary procedures and processes in place to promptly and effectively handle the situation. By recognizing potential risks and developing mitigation and response plans, we can minimize concerns and worries.

“Change management is a crucial element of any project, and it is essential to ensure that the project team and the university's user community embrace the considerable change that a new enterprise system introduces.”

Can you tell us about the latest project that you have been working on and what are some of the technological and process elements that you leveraged to make the project successful?

As part of our cloud strategy, we are continuously transferring legacy enterprise systems to the cloud. Our most recent implementation is Workday for Finance. The advantages of leveraging cloud technology are evident, such as reduced infrastructure overheads, modern interface design with usability at the forefront, and a focus on adding business value through product configuration rather than customization. Effective project management and methodologies are critical to project success. While staying on schedule and within budget are essential markers of success, other factors also need to be considered, such as verifying that business requirements have been met, implementing process improvements and automations, providing better self-service, and aligning outcomes with the university's strategic direction. Adopting an agile approach to project management has proven helpful in identifying requirements via user stories and quickly adapting to core business requirements or changes. Change management is a crucial element of any project, and it is essential to ensure that the project team and the university's user community embrace the considerable change that a new enterprise system introduces. Focusing on this and understanding the principles of effective change management and implementing them accordingly can improve buy-in, minimize surprises, and ensure a successful launch of systems.

Which are some of the technological trends which excite you for the future of the Education space?

In recent news, artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbots have garnered significant attention. As someone who has been intrigued by this area for several years, the potential is exciting. A few years ago, we launched our first AI chatbot to enhance the student experience by streamlining operational questions and support. When we can predict potential administrative barriers for students and provide a simple way to navigate those, students can focus on their studies. Providing user-friendly self-service is paramount in the information age where access to information is vital. By identifying how AI can positively impact student experiences and incorporating it, we can gain a competitive advantage. Nevertheless, there are also concerns with AI's use and rapid advancement. As with any technology, it has the potential for good or bad. It is important to have thoughtful discussions about the positive and negative impacts of emerging technologies like AI.

Information Technology

Change Management

Project Management

Information Security

Artificial Intelligence

Agile

Talent Management