Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Higher education as preparation for work

Many Western higher education faculty and leaders have been ambivalent about students' focus on their degrees as a bridge to employment but resisting students' aspirations and dreams may no longer be possible. A recent Gallup Survey indicates that, although academic leaders believe they are preparing graduates for the workplace, only 14% of the general population and 11% of business leaders believe this is the case.

Authors such as Thomas Friedman advocate that more attention should be placed on what employers want.  Citing Google as an example, Friedman noted that the proportion of college graduates has dropped among the Google workforce and that grades and test scores, the currency of academic excellence, are irrelevant to selecting good workers and contributors. The traits mosts prized by Google include; emergent leadership, humility, collaboration, adaptability, and loving to learn.

International educators will be wise to observe and sort through the debate on preparing graduates for work.  In many emerging environments, to think that a university degree is not a pathway to a job may almost seem humorous.

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