Standards
To ensure we connect people to the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, the LDI team follows a set of workplace standards.
The Learning and Development Initiative (LDI) maintains the following 10 standards of workplace competencies. These competencies ensure that the LDI
- connects people to the skills and knowledge they need to succeed by offering skills-based learning and competency-based education opportunities
- supports the programmatic development at both NJIT and NJII through the diversification of revenue streams via products and services
- creates a vibrant, vital, and relevant portfolio of non-degree credentials, custom training programs, and workforce development grants
- leverages artificial intelligence and other technological innovations in order to provide learning and development opportunities around the new frontier of work: human and AI collaboration
Definition: Defining the office’s mission, vision, and strategic goals with clarity.
Focus Areas:
- Providing a roadmap for aligning workforce development with emerging industry trends.
- Transparent communication of program objectives and expected outcomes.
- Ensure team culture is clearly articulated.
Example: The LDI mission, vision, strategic goals, and culture are all routinely discussed in weekly team meetings and are also posted on the LDI intranet.
Definition: Ensuring staff, trainers, and leadership possess relevant expertise and remain future-ready.
Focus Areas:
- Developing expertise in emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and automation.
- Ongoing certification for trainers in new workforce trends.
Example: LDI team members routinely engage in training through webinars, courses, and other forms of education in order to maintain competence in their respective roles.
Definition: Designing programs tailored to meet industry-specific and organizational needs.
Focus Areas:
- Building modular, scalable learning programs with flexibility in delivery modes.
- Offering industry-specific AI and technology courses (e.g., AI for healthcare, AI for manufacturing).
Example: The LDI custom training team has a detailed process by which they build out a program tailored to each client’s needs.
Definition: Building partnerships across internal and external stakeholders and across industries, institutions, and community organizations.
Focus Areas:
- Forming alliances with tech companies, academic institutions, and government agencies.
- Promoting public-private partnerships to address AI adoption and workforce skills gaps.
Example: The LDI works for various NJIT offices such as OGI, CDC, and alumni affairs to name a few and also with the NJII business units defense, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and AI.
Definition: Evaluating and improving offerings using data-driven insights where possible and on a regular basis.
Focus Areas:
- Leveraging analytics to measure the impact of training on workforce productivity.
- Iterating on course content to reflect technological advancements and feedback.
Example: LDI team members engage in real-time feedback to refine program effectiveness on an almost daily basis.
Definition: Adhering to legal, ethical, and accreditation standards.
Focus Areas:
- Ensuring all microcredentials meet the Quality Matters Standards for non-credit courses as posted on the LDI website.
- Meeting regulatory and accreditation standards for certifications and professional development.
Example: Prior to formalizing any contractual obligation, LDI sends contracts through either the NJIT or NJII legal and compliance teams.
Definition: Engaging in effective communication to build awareness market the office’s value as well as the utility of non-degree credentials (NDCs).
Focus Areas:
- Sharing success stories of AI-human collaboration in the workplace.
- Clear messaging about the importance of reskilling and futureproofing.
Example: The LDI hosts webinars, attends conferences, and presents at both internal and external meetings in order to build engagement and market the office’s value.
Definition: Remaining focused on the future and fostering a mindset of lifelong learning while remaining open to adaptability for future challenges.
Focus Areas:
- Encouraging learners to explore innovative ideas and emerging technologies.
- Creating a culture of experimentation and learning within organizations.
Example: The LDI remains future focused and curious in all that we do in order to stay ahead of the curve and provide our internal and external clients with the latest information on what skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in an ever-changing world.
Definition: Encouraging creative approaches to problem-solving by leveraging AI and emerging technologies.
Focus Areas:
- Teaching employees to co-create solutions with AI tools.
- Fostering innovation labs where participants can ideate and build new processes or products.
Example: The LDI is launching the LDI Metaverse and leverages other innovations when and where possible in order to provide the necessary learning and development opportunities for individuals.
Definition: Focusing on the new frontier of work: human and technological collaboration.
Focus Areas:
- Training on hybrid teams where AI assists human decision-making.
- Exploring ethical considerations of AI-human partnerships.
Example: The LDI is developing and releasing a new set of workforce development standards in order to better prepare employers and employees for The New Frontier of Work: Human and AI Collaboration.