A growing body of research highlights the clear connection between employee development, engagement, and retention.
Dr. Jennifer Chatman of UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, whose work focuses on organizational culture and leadership, emphasizes that strong workplace cultures are built when organizations invest in people, foster inclusion, and create environments where employees can grow and contribute meaningfully.
Additional 2025 research from the Work Institute found that career development remains one of the leading reasons employees stay with—or choose to leave—an organization. Similarly, Gallup’s 2025 workplace research shows that employee engagement is closely tied to both manager development and broader organizational investment in employee growth.
Together, these findings reinforce an important truth: learning and development are not simply about acquiring new skills—they are about helping employees feel valued, supported, and connected to their future at UC.
Learning Builds Connection and Purpose
Research across higher education and industry underscores the role learning plays in shaping employee experience. Faculty at UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business highlight that effective organizations create environments where employees can continuously adapt, collaborate, and develop throughout their careers.
Employees who have access to meaningful, ongoing learning opportunities are more likely to:
- Feel connected to organizational mission and values
- Experience stronger motivation and day-to-day engagement
- See a long-term future within their organization
- Contribute new ideas, innovation, and collaboration across teams
In this way, learning is not just an individual benefit—it strengthens teams, culture, and institutional impact across UC.
Growth Is for Everyone
Professional development is not limited to leadership roles or career transitions. At UC, learning takes many forms—whether building technical skills, strengthening communication and collaboration, participating in mentoring, exploring leadership pathways, or engaging in workshops and online learning.
Even small, consistent investments in learning can make a meaningful long-term impact on confidence, effectiveness, and career growth. Just as importantly, they help employees feel more connected to their work, their colleagues, and UC’s broader mission.
Explore Learning Opportunities Across UC
Across the UC system, employees have access to a wide range of development opportunities—from professional development programs and leadership workshops to mentoring networks, career resources, and online learning platforms. These offerings are designed to support growth at every stage of a career.
Professional Development at Your Location
Explore what’s available at your location and connect with your campus learning and development team to find opportunities that align with your goals. Investing in your growth not only benefits your career—it strengthens the entire UC community. Select your location to view more information:
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Berkeley
Davis Campus and Health
Irvine Campus and Health
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Los Angeles Campus
Los Angeles Health
Merced
Riverside
San Diego Campus
San Diego Health
San Francisco
Santa Barbara
Santa Cruz
Office of the President
Author & Contact
Annie Prozan
Director, Talent and Organizational Development
UCOP Local Human Resources
About the Professional Growth Series
Our new Professional Growth series will explore topics such as mentorship, interviewing, career pathways, and learning and development opportunities, with a focus on helping employees grow, connect, and thrive across the UC system.
