Is our Education System Failing Us?

Learning will be a key factor in the 21st century. Making sure we personally are learning and that educators are helping develop the next generation is a challenging task. This is because our models for learning and educating are routed in the 20th Century mindset. Is a 4 year degree necessary when the job market will be so changed by the time you get out? You’ll graduate into jobs that don’t exist. We need to learn how to learn, how to build relationships, and innovate collectively. These are not things necessarily discussed in today’s curriculum. Where should you look to further your education? Join us as we discuss with this week’s special guest, Dr. Jim Goodrich, Stoller Distinguished Chair of Business and Dean of the College of Business at Pacific University.

Jim Goodrich is currently Dean of the College of Business at Pacific University, where he is responsible for creating a new strategic plan for the College and growing the operation. Prior to this he was Dean of the College of Business and Economics at Cal State Los Angeles, where he was chief academic and administrative officer responsible for strategic management, internal operations, faculty, budgets and external relations. Goodrich has been active in strategic planning and leadership development in higher education as Dean or Associate Dean for the past 20 years.

Jim’s career also includes accomplishments as a teacher, scholar and consultant. Dr. Goodrich started his teaching at the University of the Pacific in California, where he became a tenured full professor and Director of the Westgate Center for Management Development. Jim has done training and consulting for national and international clients including IBM, Coca-Cola, Lawrence Livermore Labs, Deloitte, the Red Cross and public agencies such as CALTRANS. He has also done executive coaching for the Marshall Goldsmith organization with C-suite executives in multinational firms – as well as innovative leaders of smaller organizations – for many years.