--- title: Responding to Market Demands with a Consumer Mindset description: ​ With the increasing need of upskilling and reskilling the workforce, the concept of continuing education and online learning has evolved significantly in image: https://moderncampus.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/students-studying-on-campus-Mar-17-2026-06-41-39-7344-PM.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://moderncampus.com/blog/responding-to-market-demands-with-a-consumer-mindset.html#main-content) [![modern-campus-primary-color-r](https://moderncampus.com/hubfs/modern-campus-primary-color-r.svg) ](https://moderncampus.com/) - Products Web Content Management - [Web Content Management | CMS](https://moderncampus.com/products/web-content-management) - [Career Planning | Career Pathways](https://moderncampus.com/products/career-pathways-planning) Connected Curriculum & Co-Curricular - [Catalog Management | Catalog](https://moderncampus.com/products/catalog-management) - [Curriculum Management | Curriculum ](https://moderncampus.com/products/curriculum-management) - 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And, oftentimes, it’s understood through a lens of modality.  Institutions can offer students a variety of stackable credentials that build into a degree program, based on their interest in a particular credential. This is where CE and the main campus come together to  build a personalized pathway for a particular student.  As Thackaberry explains, colleges and universities can be seen as platforms that provide a variety of offerings or product lines to their customers: the student. By being an aggregator of these offerings, students can access the lifelong learning experiences they’re looking for.  It all comes down to being consumer minded.  Institutions have a responsibility to proactively market their offerings—to listen to what the market is looking for and deliver the right programming in the accessible and flexible way modern learners expect.  “Let's get really good at what we're providing so that it is the most efficient, most effective pathway,” Thackaberry said.  However, the concept of seeing students as customers isn’t easily accepted by everyone in higher ed’s traditional space. But as Thackaberry points out, there shouldn’t be negativity around the idea of seeing higher ed as a business.  “If we do it well, we should be doing it for the improvement of society,” she said.  In an environment of upskilling and reskilling, education needs to be bingeable.  This means creating strong partnerships with employers to develop relevant programming that keeps students competitive in the job market. It also means marketing the right programs to the right people at the right time... and breaking free from historical traditional methods.  “The single biggest thing we need to do as institutions is have this huge mind shift,” Thackaberry said, “We have to be willing to take risks and think beyond ourselves.”  **Full Episode**   *The EvoLLLution and Modern Campus are excited to be a part of Feedspot's Best 50 Higher Education Podcasts. To see the full list,[ click here. ](https://blog.feedspot.com/higher_education_podcasts/)* --- Last updated: November 18, 2021 [![Rethinking Credentialing in Higher Education for the 21st Century](https://moderncampus.com/hubfs/Rethinking%20Credentialing%20in%20Higher%20Education%20for%20the%2021st%20Century.png) ](https://moderncampus.com/blog/rethinking-credentialing-for-the-21st-century.html) [Rethinking Credentialing in Higher Education for the 21st Century](https://moderncampus.com/blog/rethinking-credentialing-for-the-21st-century.html) [Learn More →](https://moderncampus.com/blog/rethinking-credentialing-for-the-21st-century.html) [![Lifelong Learning Trends: The End of Linear Education](https://moderncampus.com/hubfs/Lifelong%20Learning%20Trends%20-%20The%20End%20of%20Linear%20Education.png) ](https://moderncampus.com/blog/lifelong-learning-trends-the-end-of-linear-education) [Lifelong Learning Trends: The End of Linear Education](https://moderncampus.com/blog/lifelong-learning-trends-the-end-of-linear-education) [Learn More →](https://moderncampus.com/blog/lifelong-learning-trends-the-end-of-linear-education) [![Academic Catalog Management Isn’t Just Admin Work Anymore](https://moderncampus.com/hubfs/Academic%20Catalog%20Management%20Isn%E2%80%99t%20Just%20Admin%20Work%20Anymore.png) ](https://moderncampus.com/blog/academic-catalog-management-isnt-just-admin-work-anymore) [Academic Catalog Management Isn’t Just Admin Work Anymore](https://moderncampus.com/blog/academic-catalog-management-isnt-just-admin-work-anymore) [Learn More →](https://moderncampus.com/blog/academic-catalog-management-isnt-just-admin-work-anymore) ## Connect with us to learn how Modern Campus can drive transformation at your institution! 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