In the past, a college degree was the golden ticket to landing a good, secure job with a good salary. In today’s society, it does not guarantee a stable job. Even if there is a job opening that is related to a person’s field, the chance of getting the job is slim. This can be attributed to a variety of factors such as competition, skill set, political, economic, and ideological factors, among others. As a result, individuals look for alternative options to prepare them for their future, while higher education needs a new strategy to restore the value of education.
An article by Joel Kotkin pointed out that the underemployed and overeducated were frustrated by economic and political issues. It widened the gap between the elite and the working class in making ends meet and attending elite universities. Many were exhausted by the ongoing issues: lack of job security, low wages, the high unemployment rate, and student debt. Other issues include lack of upward mobility and the increase in college tuition.
After that, Kotlin went on to discuss why higher education has changed so drastically. In the past, a college degree was valuable as it provided job opportunities to move up the ladder, but not in modern-day society. Students, their families, and society are frustrated by the gap between a broken college education system and a lack of job opportunities. The SHRM in the fourth series reported that students had difficulty landing a job after graduation and had difficulty searching for a job. Only 16.6% of current students claimed that they had a job lined up after graduation, compared to 83.4% of current students who claimed the reverse. Those who felt that college prepared them for the real world saw only a 4.8% difference.
What students need to know to be prepared for the workforce is not being taught in college. Employers said that college graduates lacked the soft and hard skills needed for the job. The SHRM second and third series, soft skills were crucial. It would be in high demand compared to other skills that might be replicated by an automated system. Creativity, invention, networking, leadership, teamwork, and alliances all require soft skills. Hard skills are still necessary for quality assurance of the objects and the operating system in the case of a malfunction or natural disaster.
Former Professor Peter Boghossian at Portland State University warned about the dangers of sending kids to college. He explained that college had become a spawning ground for woke ideology indoctrination that disconnected reality. He suggested going to vocational school over college. Kotkin suggested that individuals were better off not attending universities outside of elite universities, which still had some economic value. However, companies began to see the value of attending trade school since it provided a safer return on investment. Another alternative option is a technology boot camp. The SHRM fourth series, boot camps were able to provide students with hand-on experience and soft and hard skills that employers value. As a result, enrollment in coding boot camps increased year over year as the return on investment appeared to be promising.
Higher education institutions need to change their strategy to prepare students for their long-term goals so their return on investment is not for nothing. To repair the image of higher education, focus on providing specialized programs that would help students develop specialized skills for specific jobs. Focus on providing internship or hands-on experience for every program would be good. Internships and hands-on experience are where students really gain new skills and knowledge of the job. It is a real-world experience to prepare students, whether they want to stay in that field or change majors. On-going learning from professionals in the fields where students want to work. They have an understanding of the current working environment and current information in their fields. An article listed the seven keys to restoring the value of higher education that focus on learning. It is not money-grabbing environment, such as the admissions scam, or a breeding grounds for woke ideology indoctrination. The contributor also pointed out that making choices is the most important thing.
Higher education institutions must improve their performance in light of these points.In today’s environment, trade schools and other boot camps appear to be more appealing than higher education. The quality of life and economic progress are influenced by these schools. The strain of the ongoing challenges might be alleviated in a variety of ways. These schools are less expensive than higher education institutes. Students can acquire the skills they require in their fields of study. Moving up the ladder seems possible in addition to starting a family or owning a home. These schools, unlike university education, are more specialized and geared toward acquiring real-world experience prior to graduation. They have an impact on how individuals perceive the benefits and drawbacks of attending universities when the majority of high-paying employment only requires a two-year degree.
Sources:
Danger of Unemployed, overeducated class
Employers Say Students Aren’t Learning Soft Skills in College
Former professor warns: Sending your kids to college may be the WORST thing you can do
