Giving Compass' Take:

• Schools need to work in tandem with companies to help students build skills that employers need to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to education and hands-on experience. Higher education institutions might need to shift learning models to keep up with the workforce needs of the 21st century. 

• What changes will we potentially see in higher education to address the growth of bootcamps and skills specific training? How can workforce development programs partner with universities to facilitate changes in curriculum design?

•  Read more about workforce development programs and how to support them. 

Students have more options than ever when it c omes to their education.

Despite all these options, or maybe because there are now so many, there is still much to be done when it comes to holistically preparing learners for high-demand careers and the 21st century workplace. The changing world of work is forcing students to adapt to a new set of skills, but there are ways for students, workers and employers to stay ahead of the curve. Most of all, we need to scale good solutions and help learners navigate the overwhelming number of options in order to find lasting career success and fulfillment.

A May 2018 Gallup and Strada Education Network report found that, “the more relevant that consumers find their courses to be in their work and daily lives, the greater their belief that they received a high-quality education and that it was worth the cost.” Educational institutions must show a connection between learning and work in order to remain valuable in learners’ eyes.

Several bootcamp-style skills training companies such as LaunchCode, a St. Louis-based nonprofit, have established mutually beneficial relationships with companies like Boeing and Mastercard. How do such relationships work? Companies share their skill needs, which helps determine the curriculum, and offer learners apprenticeships and real-world experience. Learners can get the skills they need faster and cheaper, with a job often waiting at the end from employers who have participated in the program.

If traditional higher education is to remain relevant, it needs to continue helping students see the connection between learning and a better career. Institutions must design flexible pathways that show students how to transfer their knowledge to a job or apply what they’re learning elsewhere.

Read the full article about teaching skills employers need by Leah Jewell at The 74