Executive education has long been a means for companies to increase the skill sets of their management team. After a brief lull due to the economy, a growing number of employers are now asking for tailor-made courses that focus on their company’s specific needs, as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach. The goal of these courses is to emphasize learning that drives strategic initiatives and helps achieve expected results.

Responding to this market trend, Continuing and Professional Education at DePaul University is expanding its offerings by adding executive learning solutions designed for individual companies, enabling the development necessary to meet each company’s unique business objectives and needs.

"Leadership development occurs at all levels within an organization, not just at the top," said Lewis W. Parks, executive director of DePaul University Continuing and Professional Education. "If businesses want to have a constant pool of candidates for key leadership positions, they need to focus on the ‘potential’ at all levels within their company, not just the executives."

Parks also stressed that it is not enough for the organization to talk about leadership expectations -- individual employees must understand what leadership represents in the company and be given the opportunity to acquire and demonstrate those capabilities.

"Employers must build executive learning into the process of managing the company," he said.

DePaul currently offers several executive-level programs. In addition, the university hosts "The Executives’ Circle," a year-long forum for a select group of executives that provides lively discussion, interactive learning and other activities to prepare leaders for today’s volatile business climate. The sessions feature discussions lead by DePaul business faculty members and Chicago industry leaders.

Continuing and Professional Education is part of DePaul’s Lifelong Learning department. It educates more than 3,000 students annually from approximately 1,100 area employers. Students can choose from more than 35 certificate programs and 75 classes at seven locations in the Chicago area.

Among the certificate programs offered are financial planning, human resources, marketing, mediation and dispute resolution, organizational development, management development, leadership development and intercultural communications.

For more information on all executive level programs, tailored employee training and on-site visits or open enrollment courses through DePaul’s Continuing and Professional Education, please call 312-362-6300 or visit http://www.learning.depaul.edu.