Reflections from HBCU Engage 2025: Presenting on Building Effective Partnerships for Experiential Learning

In March, a small team of ILFers had the incredible opportunity to attend the HBCU Engage 2025 gathering held in Charleston, South Carolina. Organized by the University-Industry Demonstration Partnership (UIDP), the annual HBCU Engage forum provides a platform to highlight and spark game-changing university-industry partnerships.

Attended by a wide range of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), other universities, corporations, nonprofits, foundations and government entities, the two-day event was curated with the intention of exploring strategies for effective collaboration, gaining insights into building sustainable partnerships that drive innovation, and enhance student outcomes and readiness to address real-world challenges.

• Day 1 | Centered around the participating HBCUs, the meaningful connections and partnerships they have in place and a highlight of areas for future collaboration. Included was a dedicated showcase dubbed HBCU Pavilion where local co-hosting universities exhibited and showcased their programs and areas of collaboration to the attendees. What I like particularly about this framework is that UIDP hosts this event in varying states, and depending on the location, the local universities get to be highlighted.
• Day 2 | Featured companies from various industries highlighting the work they do, how they’ve collaborated with universities and best practices for corporate engagements to build impactful partnerships. Selected industry members had the opportunity to showcase their company at the Partners Pavilion.

Exploring Experiential Learning

The simplest definition of experiential learning is - learning by doing. In preparation for ILF’s participation at HBCU Engage, I came across the Experiential Learning Theory by David Kolbs, which basically surmised that learning is a process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. It is not solely about receiving information, but it is about engaging with it actively. Kolb’s theory explores four stages in a cyclical, continuous cycle where individuals gain knowledge by experience, reflecting, conceptualizing and actively experimenting with new ideas. The chart below, uploaded by Vijini Mallawaarrchchi on Researchgate.net, outlines the cycles which I think explain thoroughly the blended approach used by universities globally, which entails classroom exercises that mirror real-world scenarios and also include some elements of learning by doing beyond the classroom.

This backdrop of experiential learning is not just to share the ideas of David Kolb with you, but to set the stage for the Interledger Foundation’s participation at the HBCU Engage forum. At the Interledger Foundation, our mission is focused on addressing a significant global challenge - financial inclusion. We believe that empowering youth to co-create solutions to systemic financial exclusion is essential for building a more just and inclusive economic future. By equipping young people with the knowledge and access to reformative platforms, we not only address today’s barriers but also cultivate the next generation of leaders, driving equitable access to financial services for all. With the right mix of in-class and out-of-course engagement, students will be equipped with real-world skills, critical thinking, adaptability and personal growth that prepares them for complex and rapidly changing global challenges. To that end, we support universities via our Interledger NextGen Higher Education program to drive research, innovation, and education around open payments technologies.

Since 2022, we’ve had a thriving partnership with Bowie State University (led by @andrewmangle) where we’ve funded curriculum development to include open payments and financial interoperability concepts into its program, enabled capacity building via micro-internships and scholars program, hosted students at our annual Interledger Summit and support initiatives like BSU’s On Track for Good hackathon held on the Amtrak where students had the opportunity to conceptualize real world solutions using Interledger and related technologies. This pilot partnership has yielded great outcomes that have been impactful, inclusive and connected students to the real world. From this standpoint, we think it is an effective partnership on experiential learning; a great use case to present and share strategies, insights and areas of opportunities that educators could implement.

Interledger Foundation @ HBCU Engage 2025

Our 1-hour roundtable session, titled “Building Effective Partnerships for Experiential Learning”, was on day 2 and the key messages centered around industry and academia, exploring how experiential learning can bridge skills gaps and better prepare students for the workforce. Key themes included the importance of real-world experiences and project-based learning to develop future graduates, while referencing similar initiatives that BSU would have implemented in their program. In terms of building effective partnerships, here are the following key takeaways from our talk that I’d love to share with you, using the BSU’s program as a case study on how these best practices apply:

• Shared Values - as with any relationship or partnership, it will only thrive if participants have a common goal or objective. Naturally, universities have a vested interest in preparing a pipeline of diverse talent for the future of work. Industry players must then choose to align themselves with universities with a specific focus on areas or segments of industry that align with the work they do.
• Co-Design, Structured Programs - having well-structured programs with clear activities, expected outcomes for all involved is critical. Important too is having both industry partners and university(ies) working together from the onset in designing what that program will be to ensure it is mutually beneficial and, most importantly, meets the needs of the students.
• Faculty Leadership & Support - having members of the faculty with accountability for the implementation of the program is critical from the perspective that a member of faculty is best suited to ensure the program design bridges the gap between classroom and the workforce, helping students to conceptualize real-world projects within the framework of their curriculum and ensuring the students can relate the experience back to their academic theories.
• Community Engagement - it is important to embrace the support and involvement of local community organizations that will facilitate students working on real-world projects and problems. Not only does that provide a valuable learning experience for students, but it also helps them to connect with their communities in a meaningful way.
• Communication & Reflections - prioritizing consistent communication is critical to a successful partnership. This provides an opportunity for structured reflection for all parties involved to ensure the learning remains dynamic, meaningful and achieves the outcomes planned. Institute time-bound updates and interim progress report shareouts to the ecosystem to highlight the work being done.
• Celebrate! - highlight and celebrate the small wins along the way. Building on the outcomes of the reflection, proactively design ways to evolve and sustain the partnership.

Our participation at HBCU Engage was then cemented by our Lunch Table Talk led by two of our current Ambassadors: Sheena Allen (@sheenaallen visionary entrepreneur, international speaker, author, and creative architect) and Victoria Coker (@victoriac multidisciplinary artist and entrepreneur), who engaged attendees in a discussion about the financial divide and the importance of including youths in conversation and be equipped to problem-solve the systemic issues around financial inclusion.

Learning from Others…

One of the best parts of HBCU Engage was hearing about innovative approaches others are taking and getting a more diverse view on how, through partnerships, these institutions are preparing students from the workforce of varying industries. Attending the sessions on Day 1 where the universities highlighted their varying cross-sector partnerships reminded me that while every institution and industry is different, the underlying principles of collaboration, shared vision, mutual benefits, and ongoing dialogue are universal. To learn from universities participating as a consortium for the benefit of its students was also interesting and that model underscored the importance of intentionality in partnership development.

A common theme was the value of long-term relationship-building over transactional partnerships and the importance of collaborators growing together. We heard about pilot programs that have evolved into deep, transformative partnerships that not only enhance student learning but drive institutional innovation and community impact. The exchanges over the course of the two days enriched the collective understanding of how experiential learning and co-designed programs can equip students with the skills, adaptability, and mindset needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving space.

Final Reflections

Any event that couples professional growth and learning with cultural exploration is by default a big hit! A highlight of HBCU Engage 2025 was the visit to the International African American Museum, which offered a powerful and moving account of African American history and heritage, especially in the context of Charleston’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. The visit depended on my understanding of the historical roots that continue to shape social and cultural landscapes today. As a personal keepsake, receiving a palmetto rose, a handmade symbol of victory and resilience, was a meaningful reminder of Charleston’s unique traditions and the significance of honoring its past.

I am grateful for the experience at HBCU Engage and excited to continue the conversation with passionate educators who are committed to transforming education and have an interest in partnering with the Interledger Foundation.

Feel free to connect with me if you want to discuss ideas or connect on how ILF’s NextGen program can support your institution.