The Employee Development University curriculum, developed by experienced practitioners from external learning organizations and internal subject matter experts, incorporates learning objectives intended to build conceptual understanding in each area of study as well as the ability to apply knowledge in practical contexts. See EDU Program Tracks for Curriculum Details. In developing the curriculum, the staff receives guidance and support from the Corporate Dean and external courseware developers. Courses are crafted carefully to provide the employees with a highly interactive, collaborative, and applied problem-solving educational experience. The curriculum, whether developed through external learning partners or internal subject matter experts, is infused throughout with activities that promote intellectual inquiry and growth of the employee competencies in writing, oral communication, group process and critical thinking.
Program characteristics and learning objectives are constantly revised based on analysis of contemporary educational practice, customer feedback, participant and facilitator feedback, and input from Golden State Water Company management. The Corporate University teaching/learning model is based on the well-founded belief that adult students bring rich experiential knowledge to the learning process.
As such, all learning partners that are affiliated with the Employee Development University are thoroughly researched by the Corporate Dean and staff before a partnership is formed. The Employee Development University Dean believes that the affective learning domain reflects the degree to which knowledge becomes fully integrated with the person. As such, the University's ability to affect a learner's value system toward education will not only improve the immediate environment, but will affect future disposition toward learning, including retaining, applying, and sharing knowledge — a goal with broad social implications.
In January 1997, the Employee Development University Dean was invited to participate in the Chief Learning Officer™ Benchmarking Forum, sponsored by Quality Dynamics, Inc. This Forum is an invitation-only group of organizations who want to sponsor a Benchmarking study in order to compare their performance and/or improve a specific process within their corporate universities. EDU also subscribes to the Corporate University Xchange™.
Here's a list of some of the Employee Development University's Learning Partners who contribute to the core curriculum and help add value to the learning process:
