DAU increasing momentum toward Strategic Partnerships: increased return on DoD's training dollars - Fast Tract Initiative - Brief Article

Program Manager, March, 2002 by Wayne Glass

Just as strategic partnerships provide synergy for warfighters on joint development programs such as Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), equally beneficial are those strategic partnerships that promote and facilitate synergy in acquisition education for the DoD Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (AT&L) workforce and defense industry.

Independent operations are a luxury DoD can no longer afford, not only in warfighting but also in support functions such as DoD AT&L workforce training. In the face of deep budget cuts, and as we expand learning opportunities for our workforce, now more than ever we must leverage our precious resources to achieve increased return on our training dollars.

In January 2001, under the leadership of Donna Richbourg, then Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition Reform), DAU President Frank J. Anderson Jr., launched Strategic Partnerships as one of 10 Fast Track initiatives in support of the second of five goals announced by Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition, Technology and Logistics) E.C. "Pete" Aldridge: to Revitalize the Quality and Morale of the DoD AT&L Workforce. This article is an update on the progress of that initiative.

Strategic Partnerships--No Better Way

What better way is there for DoD, through the Defense Acquisition University, to capitalize on the strengths of other private, public, and corporate universities, than through strategic partnerships that create and offer more learning opportunities for the DoD AT&L workforce.

Initially DAU had set a fiscal 2002 milestone to create 10 Strategic Partnerships. According to Paul McMahon, DAUs former Director of Strategic Partnerships, "With approximately twenty-five [strategic partnerships] in place or on the immediate horizon, that goal will be met."

DAU's appointment of Associate Deans for Outreach in each of its five regions is a deliberate attempt to leverage the energy and enthusiasm of the University's strategic partners. This outreach represents one of many benefits realized through DAU's transformation strategy of providing full services to customers within their own regions. These partnerships hold promise of great value and a total win-win scenario for DAU and other private, public, and corporate universities, industry, and professional associations.

DAU's strategic partnerships greatly increase the value of past and existing DAU courses. These partnerships enhance the quality and morale of the AT&L workforce, and motivate the workforce to pursue additional continuous learning activities, increased knowledge, and skills. They also stimulate recognition of achievements by members of the AT&L workforce through award of commercial and academic certifications and degrees in recognition of their accomplishments.

These strategic partnerships successfully leverage new and expanded learning opportunities with other institutions. They also provide flexible opportunities to obtain the education component of Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements, as well as more opportunities to earn academic degrees and Continuous Education Units required by acquisition policy

The George Washington University and ESI Intl.

In its first formal academic partnership, DAU teamed up with The George Washington University (GWU) and ESI Intl. (ESI), an industry leader in project and contract management training.

Through this dynamic relationship, DAU students who have earned a Level I, II, or III Certification in one of the DAWIA career fields may take ESI courses and apply them toward a Joint Master's Certificate, backed by GWU, in one of four areas: Project Management, Information Technology Project Management, Commercial Contract Management, and Government Contracting.

"We're very proud of our reputation in the public sector as a premier provider of project management and contract management training," said Larry Seeley, ESI President. "DAU's decision to choose ESI's classes as an add-on to their very extensive list of internal classes underlines our understanding of the training needs of Federal Government employees.

"I am very excited about the DAU's partnership with ESI," said DALI President Frank J. Anderson Jr. "I will continue to encourage our students to take advantage of this opportunity to take classes from ESI and hopefully earn a Master's Certificate. As a matter of fact, I can't wait to register for a class myself. I look forward to building a strong relationship with ESI and expanding ESI's role in providing top-notch training to our students in the future."

DAU students taking ESI courses have three options: classroom training, onsite training, and e-training. For additional information about this program, call (888) 374-4682.

George Mason University School of Public Policy

Under a new educational strategic partnership with George Mason University (GMU), students are able to leverage completed DAU training toward an M.S. in Transportation Policy, Operations, and Logistics. The GMU degree program, which is offered in conjunction with graduate courses offered by GMU's School of Public Policy, is available to any one who is certified in at least one of the DoD AT&L career fields; holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited university; has achieved, at a minimum, Level I certification in at least one DAU career field; and is admitted to a GMU degree program.