:: Schwan's University earns top global honors ::
By Dana Yost - The Independent
By the last time Randy Abbott was called to the stage, everyone else in the room was standing.
And applauding.
In a sweep that reminded Abbott of Oscar night, Schwan's University earned awards in eight categories and was judged the world's best corporate university in a competition Feb. 5 in Atlanta.
The event was the 9th Annual Corporate University Xchange Awards for Excellence and Innovation in Corporate Learning.
The most coveted of the awards was Best Overall, and it was the last award announced.
"I think the thing that carried the most elation for us was when they said we were the best overall corporate university," said Abbott, the president of Schwan's University.
He said SU won awards in all eight categories for which it was eligible.
"When we went up the last time for the award, we got a standing ovation," Abbott said. "Afterward, people came up and said that was just stunning. We had people from all over the country, talking to us, wanting to learn more about us. ... People honestly appreciated the work we do." |
Along with Best Overall, Schwan's University won awards in leadership development, measurement, corporate/college partnerships, alignment, alliances, and learning technologies and marketing.
The CorpU Awards are a partnership between CorpU, Fortune Magazine and The Wharton School of Business. A news release from the Schwan Food Co. called the awards "the oldest and most prestigious in the field of corporate learning." Applicants were judged by independent experts from Duke University, Wharton, Cisco, Pfizer and other organizations and corporations.
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In winning Best Overall, SU defeated corporate learning sites from much larger companies.
"Being recognized like this, Schwan's University has clearly defined itself as a tremendous asset to Schwan and it will inspire outside corporations and organizations to look at SU to strengthen their leadership bench, increase business acumen and build management prowess with measurable results," Abbott said. |
That's all critical as SU moves forward in two areas — an attempt to become the first corporate university to earn academic accreditation, and in recruiting top-notch workers and improving development of the current workforce, Abbott said.
Abbott said the awards and accreditation are separate programs.
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"But I think when they come in and look at accrediting us, they'll look at whether the organization is meeting its mission and delivering strategic importance," Abbott said. "This is evidence we are doing that ... it will be a boost."
Abbott said the spreading word about the quality of SU is vital in a competitive work environment.
"When you look at the whole job market situation, I think in the future, organizations that have really good training and development areas which can aid (employees') development and help organizations grow — that's going to be a big attraction to recruiting," Abbott said. "I think it will help us recruit people here, and it's a sign we have added value to the employees here."
Abbott said SU's success has come through the support of a "bundle" of people at the Schwan Food Co. and SU itself. He also credited the vision of former president/CEO Lenny Pippin in expanding SU. |
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Schwan's University was established in 2001. The company said the staff includes executive coaches, performance consultants, measurement experts, curriculum designers, Web developers, professors and e-learning specialists. SU has served thousands of customers inside and outside of the company, Schwan said.
"It certainly does help recruiting in that it provides an opportunity for employees to further develop their careers," said Schwan executive vice president Bill McCormack.
He said it's an honor in which the company should take pride.
"Absolutely," McCormack said. "It is quite an accomplishment to be judged the best training university in the world against corporations that are much larger than we.”
Article published with permission by The Independent. To contact the author, send an email to dyost@marshallindependent.com. |
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