Learning Today Can be on Your Terms

Technology has made it easier than ever to advance your education and value without missing a step.

By Denise M. Cumberland, CFE and Kathleen Gosser

Everyone is a lifelong learner. After all, you are reading an article about education and learning. That alone says a lot. But for busy executives, reading an article might be where it stops. It’s not because of lack of interest, but rather finding time to pursue ongoing education is the challenge. This article will answer some key questions to help you determine if it is time for you to invest in your own educational transformation.

Why Continue Learning Through a Certificate Program?

A former Fortune 500 CEO of a large restaurant organization said, “I believe that being an avid learner is the single biggest thing that separates a good leader from a great one. There is always more to know and when people ask what I look for when hiring someone, an avid learner tops the list.” Being an avid learner means building your knowledge continuously. With today’s rapidly changing business climate, staying in the forefront of your industry is critical to your ongoing success. 

Many professionals want to continue their careers while gaining additional education. This has created a demand for professional certificates, which are accessible, flexible and affordable. Certificate programs focus on the mastery of skills and knowledge by individuals already in a profession. Industry-specific certificates not only help you gain more knowledge in your field, but also help you elevate your stature and add value to your organization.

The IFA’s Certified Franchise Executive Program (CFE), created in the 1990s, awards the CFE designation to individuals who have obtained, through experience, education and testing, an advanced set of skills distinctly applicable to the field of franchising. There are more than 1,600 CFEs, and these lifelong learners champion the program, with 98 percent recommending the program to others.

It certainly helps that there is a strong value proposition for obtaining this credential. A study by Franchise Business Review found that individuals with CFEs earn more; in fact - CFE Directors and above earn 9 percent more than their counterparts. Earning a certificate credential can also be a differentiating factor during a job search. Holding a certificate confirms additional learning in the industry, and also demonstrates persistence and dedication on the part of the individual completing it. Lastly, a professional certificate leads to networking within your industry with other like-minded professionals. 

How Can I Make it Work with My Schedule?

Working in the franchise industry today can mean 50-hour-plus workweeks. So, the question becomes, how can you earn a professional certificate, work full-time plus some, and have time for family and friends?

Advances in technology have made it possible to do much of the learning for a professional certificate or a graduate certificate/degree online. Gone are the days when online learning equated to a “lesser” educational model. Also, gone are the days when online programming meant watching a narrated PowerPoint slide or listening to a monotone instructor drone on and on. Technology has evolved and learning in an online venue has grown exponentially easier and more engaging. 

To meet the needs of online learners, the CFE program is continuing to evolve its online curriculum. One of the newest and most innovative partnerships is through the College of Business at the University of Louisville (UofL). Educational institutions like UofL have had years of experience with online programming and have begun to create micro-learning certificate programs. These types of programs offer stackable certificates that provide adult learners the opportunity to accelerate learning, enabling them to launch, grow or pivot in their careers. Furthermore, these short micro-learning online courses are ideal for the adult learner, providing quick access to credentials and giving the learner both confidence and competence in their abilities.

UofL’s Franchise Management Certificate Program offers six courses, including Fundamentals of Franchising, Leading Franchise Teams, Human Resource Infrastructure, Buying and Growing a Franchise, Franchise Law, and Building a Profitable Franchise Relationship. UofL’s Certificate offers three attractive features. First, each course is valued at 250 CFE credits. Second, if all six courses are completed, the learner earns a UofL certificate. Third, a learner can earn nine graduate level credits that can be applied toward an MBA.

In addition to the UofL program, the CFE program offers online courses from Profit Soup, a well-respected coaching company focused on finance, and Franklin Covey, known for its project management prowess. 

What is Being Said About Online Certificate Programs?

It is no accident that the last two years have yielded the highest graduating classes of CFEs in history. The CFE has proven to be valuable to those taking it, and as enrollment has expanded, there has been a wider range of participants’ titles and roles, causing the CFE program to offer more diversity in course offerings. The program has also addressed participants’ desire for more online courses, including the UofL series that takes learning to a new level.

One CFE commented, “We send every single employee who touches the corporate office to some of the CFE courses as they need a basic understanding of franchising and this content helps them grow and develop. I renew my CFE to keep learning and to demonstrate on an ongoing basis to my peers, employees and my customers that I have the ability to intelligently lead us.”

A CEO of a $300 million brand commented, “For me personally, the CFE program has been phenomenal. It has served my needs as it helped me advance and bring me up on franchising.”

“Traditionally, general business education was taught in the confines of a business school and the nuts and bolts of a profession were learned through years of experience,” said Todd Mooradian, Dean of the College of Business at UofL. “Today, in a dynamic industry like franchising, people don’t have decades to acquire that industry acumen. They need an educational solution that is relevant, convenient and will expedite that ‘deep-dive’ into the way their specific industry works. We have partnered with industry-experienced executives and the franchising industry’s preeminent industry association, the IFA, to create digestible, applicable, cutting-edge content delivered online to assist today’s professionals with accelerating their careers.”

In addition to the Dean, one of the first students in the UofL program attributed a recent promotion to the new learning she acquired in the Fundamentals course. In her introduction to the class in the second course, she said, “I have to give credit to this program for helping me get a promotion! In just five weeks I was able to acquire the fundamentals of franchising and quickly apply it to my role.”

These programs help fuel lifelong learning. While franchising grows, as do the opportunities for the people who dedicate their lives to it. Opportunity is out there, no matter what schedule or status. With all your current knowledge, why not gain more?

Denise M. Cumberland, PhD, CFE, is Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development Department at the University of Louisville and serves on the Board of Governors of the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives. Kathleen Gosser, Ph.D. is the Director of Learning & Organizational Development at KFC, faculty member at the University of Louisville College of Business, and co-creator of the Franchise Management Certificate at UofL. Find out more about the University of Louisville here.