Game On! Kaplan University Incorporates Gamification Into Its Career Services Network

Online tool makes finding a job and building a career motivating
for students and alumni

DAVENPORT, Iowa–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#careerKaplan
University
today announced that it has incorporated gamification
into its career services network. Gamification applies game design
elements to non-game activities to drive stronger student engagement.

“Finding a job is a job and it involves a lot of hard work and
determination. By incorporating gamification features into our career
services network, our goal is to make that process more enjoyable,
engaging and successful for our students and alumni,” said Jennifer
Lasater, Vice President of Employer and Career Services for Kaplan
University.

How CareerNetwork Works

Students are introduced to CareerNetwork during their first term at
Kaplan University. When entering the network, students see an
individualized job feed based on their program of study and geographical
location. They can apply for jobs directly from the feed and organize
their search with the Career Services staff. Students start by creating
their own avatar—a virtual representation of themselves. They receive
points and advance levels for compiling personal information that in
turns helps the University’s Career Services team learn more about them
and their job search. This helps the team provide more effective
coaching.

At literally any time of day or night students may engage in ‘quests’ to
gain skills and build professional abilities, represented by badges and
points. Examples of quests include creating an ‘elevator speech,’
reading and posting career-related articles in their field of study,
conducting informational interviews, creating resumes and writing cover
letters, building a social media presence, connecting with other
students and employers, and applying for jobs for which they are well
suited. Students can also participate in challenges such as ‘resume
showdowns’ at which they learn how recruiters review resumes and the
importance of customizing a resume to a position.

CareerNetwork also provides a platform for the University’s Career
Services team to host employer spotlights, which are virtual information
sessions with employers designed to give students an opportunity to
learn more about the various companies for which they might want to
work. “We understand that cost per hire is important to employers and
we’re happy to offer employer interactions with Career Services at no
cost to our employers” stated Lasater. “It’s an effective way to reach a
pool of well-qualified candidates.”

CareerNetwork is one of the many ways the University helps its students
become career ready. In addition to one-on-one career support and
guidance such as resume reviews, mock interviews, interest assessments
and job leads found in traditional career services models, they also
include moving towards a competency-based
learning
model and giving all its students a personalized Competency
Report that provides assessments of a student’s skill and knowledge
demonstrated throughout his or her program(s) of study at the University.

Launched in 2011, Kaplan University’s CareerNetwork provides real-time
24/7 support for job seekers. This includes providing customized job
feeds to students based on their program of study and geographical area
along with additional tools that help students access their interest.
Since its debut, CareerNetwork has hosted more than 165,000 Kaplan
University students and graduates.

Strategic Gamification Partner

Kaplan University partnered with High
Voltage Software
, a leading independent game development studio, to
develop the gamification elements in CareerNetwork.

“Kaplan University approached us with a challenge that we couldn’t say
no to,” said Kerry Ganofsky, High Voltage Software CEO and Founder.
“Collaboration between a software company and an educator to advance the
job search experience with gamification is a unique approach that we
wanted to be a part of.”

About Kaplan University’s Career Services

The Kaplan University Career Services team has over 80 staff members
assisting students with their individualized career needs no matter the
location—either online or at a campus. Students are immersed in career
exploration through a minimum of three classroom experiences with the
Career Services staff to build an awareness of their career options as
well as understand that career development is important throughout their
studies, not something that “happens” to a student at the end of their
time at Kaplan University. From these interactions, students are
encouraged to build professional connections, gain knowledge of job
titles and employers in their field and explore experiential learning
options such as volunteer work, part time jobs, externships and
practicum/clinical experiences. In addition, Kaplan University Career
Services offers social media reviews of profiles for their students.

About Kaplan University

Kaplan University offers a different school of thought for higher
education. It strives to help adult students unlock their talent by
providing a practical, student-centered education that prepares them for
careers in some of the fastest-growing industries. The University, which
has its main campus in Davenport, Iowa, and its headquarters in Chicago,
is accredited by The
Higher Learning Commission
. Kaplan University serves approximately
37,000 online and campus-based students. The University has 14 campuses
in Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, Maryland, Maine, Missouri and Wisconsin, and
a Kaplan University Learning Center in Maryland.

Kaplan University is part of Kaplan Higher Education LLC and Kaplan,
Inc., which serves over 1.2 million students globally each year through
its array of higher education, test preparation, professional education,
English-language training, university preparation, and K-12 offerings to
individuals, institutions, and businesses. Kaplan has operations in over
30 countries, employs more than 19,000 full- and part-time
professionals, and maintains relationships and partnerships with more
than 1,000 school districts, colleges, and universities, and over 2,600
corporations and businesses. Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings
Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division. For more information,
please visit www.Kaplan.com.

Contacts

Kaplan University
Amy Hawkinson
Director, Public Relations
Office:
954-515-3603
Mobile: 773-301-6437
ahawkinson@kaplan.edu

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