In December, just as many of us were wrapping up courses and preparing for a much needed break, the American Association of Colleges and Universities released a report—“The Agility Imperative: How Employers View Preparation for an Uncertain Future”—that should give many readers of this blog reason to feel confident about the vocational work we do to prepare students for their lives after college. In conversation with Inside Higher Ed, Ashley Finley, AAC&U’s vice president and report author, said that in contrast to the skepticism colleges and universities face from many Americans, “employers are higher education’s biggest fans. They value the ways in which colleges are preparing students to be nimble and agile for an uncertain future.”
At a time when many of us can easily feel that our work is undervalued or even viewed with hostility, this report confirms what many of us at NetVUE member institutions know: engaging our students in vocational exploration and discernment—and all that it involves, from constructive engagement with difference to high-impact experiential learning practices—is not only intrinsically meaningful, but also practically useful as they embark on their careers. Key findings from the report also provide important insights that can bolster our morale and help us make a case to our constituents that what we’re doing matters. Consider this point as reported by Inside Higher Ed:
“According to the survey, 94 percent of employers said it’s equally important for colleges to prepare a skilled and educated workforce and to help students become informed citizens; 92 percent said it’s also important for colleges to create an environment where students of all backgrounds feel supported and to help them engage with and serve their communities. And 96 percent of employers said it’s useful for college graduates to be able to engage in constructive dialogue across disagreement; 80 percent are confident colleges and universities are helping students develop those skills.”
Readers interested in reading more about this report can check out the article on Inside Higher Ed, or review the report’s key findings or download and the report in full.
Geoffrey W. Bateman is the editor of Vocation Matters.