Like so many other economic sectors, higher education has experienced numerous changes over the past decade, and the potential exists for continued transition away from long-held practices. Indeed, the last 10 years have included substantial increases in online instruction and services, a noticeable shift away from silos of isolation, and a greater level of recognition that higher education must play a key role in our nation’s future. Some of the recent changes could be considered trends – fads that will pass in a few years and may not truly be necessary to accommodate or address.
However, other changes, specifically new legal requirements and regulations, appear to be more long term. Battling against certain rules can be a worthwhile endeavor occasionally, but sometimes that fight is a losing one, while in selected cases these rules can actually be beneficial. For example, recent demands include greater transparency – posting information about college costs, student debt, institutional demographics, etc. – and a renewed focus on student learning outcomes – licensure/certification pass rates, job placement, further education, etc.
Certainly, these rules can seem burdensome at times, but they also can be quite beneficial because they allow the public to learn more. The requirements and regulations may even advance an institution by shining a figurative spotlight on areas needing improvement.
One such area is preparing students for current and upcoming careers, rather than simply hoping students learn from a textbook and eventually find jobs. It is this focus on career preparation that has some higher education institutions implementing hands-on learning emphases across multiple curricula, truly transforming the subject matter and students’ perceptions of it.
The benefits of this practical, practice-based approach are numerous: From the college standpoint, faculty members are able to assess student preparation and truly understand each student’s level of skill and readiness. This approach also requires a high level of preparation and up-to-date training from faculty, the best of whom do so with respect and a genuine interest in students as people and future colleagues.
Students tend to both like and appreciate a practice-based curriculum because it allows them to apply what they recently learned. This may be increasingly important for younger students; they have grown up in a technological era and often have a different learning style.
What is more, many employers strongly favor this practical model because it mimics what employees will need to know and perform. Some employers have opened their doors, and occasionally their expense accounts, to promote internships and other opportunities for students prior to graduation.
These employers have calculated a fairly small investment up front can lead to much larger returns in attracting and retaining great employees, as well as utilizing these opportunities as something of an extended job interview to evaluate students.
Given these advantages, it is no surprise this approach has gained a lot of support from those paying for the education. Funding a college degree can be extremely expensive; if a practice-based approach leads to increased learning and a relevant job upon graduation, then it is one trend that may be here to stay.
Lance Ratcliff is president of Cox College. He can be reached at lance.ratcliff@coxcollege.edu.
