Innovation and quality: USAP's response to today's educational challenges
Ricardo Jaar, Executive President of Universidad San Pedro de Sula, details the strategies adopted to meet current educational challenges.
University of San Pedro Sula
Founded in 1978, it has the honor of being the first private higher education institution in Honduras. This educational project arose thanks to the initiative of a group of visionary entrepreneurs who identified the need to offer quality education, but at the same time be economically accessible to a greater number of people. Its history and trajectory position it as a reference in the Honduran educational field, always maintaining a balance between quality and accessibility.
The challenges
Outdated curricula
The university faced a significant challenge in keeping its curricula up to date with the rapid transformations in technology and the demands of the labor market, despite investments in laboratories and innovation.
Need for flexibility
There was an urgent need to explore educational platforms that could be flexibly and quickly incorporated into curricula to meet the skill and knowledge demands that students were seeking outside the university.
Student flight to other forms of learning
Many students opted to seek additional training at other institutions or online platforms, as the university failed to meet all their educational and professional needs.
Challenge in attracting and retaining students
This context generated a significant challenge in terms of attracting new students and retaining current ones, since the university's educational offerings were not perceived as sufficiently competitive or up-to-date.
The solution
To overcome these challenges, the University of San Pedro Sula implemented the following strategies:
Virtual Education Strategic Plan:
The university optimized its virtual educational offerings to provide access to up-to-date tools and resources for students and teachers.
USAP Plus:
This platform was launched with more than 10,000 certifications available to the entire educational community, allowing the obtainment of certifications in relevant areas of study and professional skills.
Teacher Certification:
Faculty members must be certified in key areas, ensuring that they are up-to-date and aligned with the university's academic standards.
Specialized Bootcamps:
Bootcamps focused on skills in demand in the labor market were implemented as an essential part of the graduation requirements to promote the professional updating of students.
The results
Rapid and massive adoption
The USAP Plus platform has experienced impressive adoption, with more than 6,000 enrollments from students seeking to improve their skills and knowledge through the available certifications. This demonstrates the interest and proactivity of students in their professional development.
Full faculty participation
We have achieved 100% participation by teachers in the Digital Teacher certification, ensuring that all educators in the institution are adequately prepared for the challenges of education in the digital era.
Integration with curricula
Certifications and bootcamps have been effectively integrated with existing curricula, complementing and enriching them. This allows students to obtain additional recognition in addition to their university degree, increasing their competitiveness in the job market.
Recognition and added value
The certifications obtained through USAP Plus have become an important added value for students, differentiating them in the job market and providing them with concrete tools to stand out in their professional fields.
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