In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the need for innovation in online education has never been more critical. 

Traditional colleges and universities are facing unprecedented challenges from alternative forms of education such as bootcamps, online courses from industry giants, and micro-credentialing programs that are gaining immense popularity. 

These alternatives are not only more accessible but also tailored to the shifting preferences of a gig economy that increasingly rejects the conventional 9-to-5 desk job model. 

Also, there is a discernible decline in how people value a college education, prompting higher education institutions to rethink their strategies to stay relevant and competitive.

Recently, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Stephen Lennox, President of Kingswood University, who shared invaluable insights on the importance of innovation in this space. 

Kingswood University stands out as a shining example of the kind of forward-thinking approach needed to address these challenges through their Kingswood Learn program. 

This innovative initiative exemplifies how traditional institutions can adapt to meet the changing needs of students, providing flexible and relevant learning opportunities that align with the demands of today’s dynamic workforce.

In this post, I want to dive into our conversation with Dr. Lennox and explore the strategies and principles that make Kingswood University’s approach to online education a model for others to follow.

The Vision Behind Kingswood Learn

Kingswood University was motivated to launch the Kingswood Learn initiative primarily to address the needs of local churches for accessible discipleship and leadership development resources. 

Dr. Lennox recognized a significant hunger among churches for these types of resources, which were often hindered by high cost or convenience barriers. 

As I would go out and I would interact with local churches particularly, there was such a hunger there for discipleship resources. 

I remember thinking, I’ve got this whole university filled with resources that these people need, but the threshold is too high. 

It’s either a cost threshold or convenience threshold, but it’s too high for them. 

So I’ve got this vast warehouse of material that these people would be hungry for, but there’s no real way to give it to them in a way that they would be willing to take it. I thought, “if only I could give this away for free.” 

But I didn’t know how to do that—and I didn’t want to lose my job over it! But it continued to be a burden for me to try to strengthen the local church, because that’s in our mission statement. We’re committed to strengthening the local church. 

A long-standing relationship with an entrepreneurial leader from CampusEDU helped Kingswood University overcome the challenge of providing accessible educational resources.

This trust-based partnership allowed them to launch Kingswood Learn, a platform that delivers valuable content to churches and other organizations. 

The initiative aimed to leverage the university’s existing educational materials and expertise to provide high-quality micro courses for free, making them accessible to a wider audience and aligning with the university’s mission to strengthen both the local and global church. 

As a higher ed marketer, I believe this initiative reflects a strategic response to the changing landscape of higher education. 

Innovation in online education should begin with your mission.

To innovate in a way that brings success to your institution as well as providing massive value to your students, you have to dig deep into what you are all about.

I like how Dr. Lennox talked about the disconnect between what he wanted to do and what was actually possible at the time. 

He wanted to get their educational programs into the hearts and minds of more church leaders. Of course, economic and technological constraints kept him from being able to realize his dream until the right opportunity presented itself.

But the opportunity would have passed him by had he not been fixated—almost frustratingly—in the first place. 

Innovation must begin with your mission.

Key Feature of Kingswood Learn

Kingswood Learn offers high-quality micro courses, with around 50 available to start, all of which are aimed at those in local churches or Christian organizations seeking growth in discipleship and leadership.

The platform invites practitioners to provide additional courses, which take four to seven hours to complete and are free. 

While these courses do not offer academic credit, they provide valuable discipleship resources and leadership development. 

For a small fee, users can opt for their work to be assessed, receiving feedback.

Probably what I find the most innovative is the flexibility behind the program.

These courses then become little Lego pieces so that a person can take one of these micro courses simply to upskill in an area of interest. 

But if for whatever reason they feel like they want to go on, perhaps to pursue a degree or perhaps to some kind of credentialing, these courses then become a value to them. 

These micro courses become stackable so a person, wherever they start, can get where they need to go.

Kingswood Learn proves that traditional higher education institutions can also provide massive flexibility for non-traditional learners.

Flexibility is typically thought to be the wheelhouse of smaller institutions or nonaccredited online learning platforms. 

But the team at Kingswood appears to have cracked the code by innovating in their online education space.  

As the students become more sensitive to hefty tuition fees and have increasingly less expensive and more diverse educational options for their careers, higher education institutions will have to find creative ways to provide the flexibility and convenience that Kingswood Learn students are enjoying.

How Innovation in Online Education Enhances Brand Perception

Perhaps the most exciting thing that is happening at Kingswood University as a result of their newly revamped online education program is the way that it has reworked their brand perception.

Before, they were just one of the many options available to church leaders for their educational needs, but now, they have carved out a space that no one else can touch.

Kingswood Learn has recast Kingswood. Of all the things that we’ve done, this has been the most effective at recasting Kingswood in the Persona that we’re seeking, which is we exist to serve the church. 

[In our marketing, we are essentially asking the prospect,] “How can we serve you?” 

And nothing has said that more clearly than this willingness to invest $2 million essentially into the church without asking anything back from it. 

So it totally changes the conversation whether we’re talking about Kingswood Learn or not. 

The fact that we are the institution that has launched Kingswood Learn immediately changes people’s perception of us. It has done a significant job at changing people’s perceptions of us, both in the church, outside the Wesleyan Church, our sponsoring denomination. 

It has created all kinds of opportunities for new conversations with new donors, new constituencies, new potential partners, which would have been totally closed off to us otherwise. 

The halo effect has been even more than we’ve imagined. 

By innovating their online education program, Kingswood is essentially building a renewed brand narrative.

This narrative is centered on service, flexibility, and accessibility, which resonates deeply with their target audience.

The impact of Kingswood Learn extends beyond the immediate benefits to students. 

It has redefined Kingswood University’s identity in the educational landscape. 

By investing significantly in this initiative, Kingswood has demonstrated a commitment to serving their target audiences without any immediate expectation of return. 

This selfless approach has fostered a perception of Kingswood as a forward-thinking and service-oriented institution.

• How could innovating your online education program change your brand narrative?
• How could retooling your current programs, both offline and online, show your target audience that you are in it first and foremost for their benefit?
• What moves from your institution does your prospective student need to see so that they know that you’re serious about your mission?

When prospective students see real moves towards shaping your educational offering according to their needs, marketing becomes much, much easier. 

Rather than trying to invent a brand narrative out of thin air, as a marketer you can tell the story of what’s happening every day at your institution. 

That is what really can happen when higher education institutions prioritize mission-driven online education. 

To learn more about Kingswood’s initiative, please listen to the full podcast episode with Dr. Stephen Lennox on The Higher Ed Marketer podcast!

Find the help you need to tell your story!

If you’re looking for an experienced, results-oriented partner in the higher education marketing world, we can help you tell your story. 

At Caylor Solutions, we understand the unique challenges faced by colleges and universities in today’s competitive educational landscape. As a premier higher education marketing agency, we specialize in providing creative services that elevate your brand and effectively engage your target audience.

Our Creative Services

• Branding and Messaging: We craft compelling brand stories that resonate with prospective students and stakeholders, positioning your institution as a leader in higher education.
• Design and Layout: Our talented design team creates visually stunning and cohesive marketing materials, from viewbooks and travel pieces to targeted brochures and digital content.
• Copywriting: Engage your audience with powerful and persuasive copy that highlights your institution’s strengths and unique offerings.
• Custom Creative Assets: Tailored specifically for higher education, our creative assets include enrollment and advancement marketing tools designed to captivate and convert. Whether it’s a viewbook, a Hispanic-focused brochure, or a parent-targeted piece, we deliver high-impact materials that make a difference.

Join the many colleges and universities that have transformed their brand and marketing efforts with Caylor Solutions. Let us help you tell your story in a way that truly connects with your prospective students and sets you apart.

Contact us today to learn more about how our creative services can elevate your educational marketing strategy!

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Featured image via kingswood.edu