Best Practices in Corporate Universities

Abstract

Training is critical to workforce development, contributes toward employee retention, and provides new skills that are required when agency missions expand. Nevertheless, few transportation agencies have addressed future workforce needs. In 2002, the National Transportation Workforce Summit, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, found that training expenditures in transportation agencies are insufficient and recommended annual investments of 2 percent of salaries. In recent years, the Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) has invested 1.5 percent of salaries toward education and training. Through the Transportation Education Development Pilot Program (TEDPP) grant, this best practices report in corporate universities examines the delivery mechanisms of training (e-learning, blended, and academy formats) and the efficacy of training delivery mechanisms for corporate universities within various private and public sector organizations and selected state highway administrations.