A Manifesto on the Future of Higher Education

by Megan Underwood & Laura Marks

What is the purpose of higher education?

The answer likely differs depending on who you ask. Universities may believe it’s to create higher level thinkers and learners. But students, particularly as the cost of higher education rises, are now considering their return on investment based on graduate career prospects and earning potential.

And yet, if students are pursuing higher education to improve their career outcomes, there’s a pretty serious gap. With 40% of recent university graduates still unemployed or underemployed, is higher education living up to expectations?

So, what really is the purpose of higher education? Is it to nurture worldviews or to prepare students for careers? We’ll answer that question with a question: Why does it have to be one or the other?

In this manifesto, we propose a path forward.

A path that can elevate higher education to meet the needs of the future of work. A path that incorporates skills-based and project-based experiential learning while simultaneously nurturing young minds to think critically and learn. Most importantly, we propose what we hope will be a catalyst for conversation, collaboration, and problem solving for all of those who are seeking and building solutions in this space.

We believe that higher education is broken.

We think hands-on experiences are woefully absent from university curricula. We feel traditional education structures do not adequately prepare students to determine their strengths and explore career directions. We recognize that the career landscape is ever changing and believe education must change with it.

In short: We believe that the future of education must evolve to meet the needs of the future of work.

So, how can Higher Education adapt to meet the needs of today’s career landscape?

Accessibility:

Higher Education must be accessible, no matter your (dis)ability, race, beliefs, or location. As technology advances and our world becomes increasingly more connected, equal opportunity to access education is a problem that is easily solved.

Financial Accessibility:

Governments and private companies must recognize their role in supporting the skill-building of their future workforce. While the cost of Higher Education tuition has continued to climb by nearly 400% since the 1990’s, the median pay of graduates has completely stagnated, leaving many graduates saddled with debt until they reach middle age. It is unacceptable that we allow students to graduate without tangible work experiences or a clear understanding of their potential paths or professional landscape.

Experiential Learning:

Higher Education must involve multiple chances for real world learning and the application of both disciplinary knowledge and interdisciplinary skills. Students must be given chances to formally or informally put their learning into practice, no matter their field of study. Experiential Learning takes many forms including co-op, team-based projects, internships, studies, simulations and other work integrated learning experiences. Promoting these opportunities and helping students to navigate them must be a top priority for universities.

Project-Based Learning:

Higher Education must include multiple team-based, interdisciplinary projects throughout every degree. These projects must include real, hands-on experiences, allowing students to work on a real, engaging problem related to their field of study. Projects would ideally include industry feedback in order to better prepare students for the world of work.

Multi-Pathway:

The future of education must be interdisciplinary. Instead of requiring students to focus their study, universities must build T-shaped students committed to continuous learning, developing, and upskilling in areas outside of their main discipline. By nurturing a culture of exploration, we continue to normalize the fact that linear careers are no longer the norm.

Up-to-date Career Education:

Universities must incorporate coursework on the existing work and industry landscape. Students must be taught to design their dream job of the future in a way that leverages their interests and strengths and encourages continuous exploration and growth. Career education must include the specifics of day-to-day life, growth opportunities, strengths involved, and earning potential of varying roles and industries. Most importantly, we must structure career education to reduce overwhelm — googling career options is no replacement for actual lived experiences.

Lifelong Learning:

Higher Education is no longer a one-time, static experience. Students must be taught that learning is continuous and change is guaranteed. All educational institutions must teach students that specialization isn’t the only path to success. Students need to learn that exploration is the key to learning how to shift and what to shift into, which will undoubtedly happen over the course of their careers.

We know the current Higher Education system is broken and we want to be part of the solution. Let’s figure out how to fix it together.

Join this conversation.

We are working to create and unify a community of change-makers who are interested in transforming or innovating the future of education to meet the future of work. Does this resonate for you? Are you working on a solution? What are you, your organization or your community doing to adapt to the future of work?

This manifesto was written following conversations during and after an experiential learning program, Seth Godin’s altMBA. Special thanks to Andrew Lewinsky for preliminary input. Laura and Megan work for organizations that focus on experiential learning and career readiness. They are dedicated to improving the educational and career paths for university students. They have never met in person.