From Classroom to Career: Is Higher Education Over-Focused on Academics?

You cannot enter a higher-education-related conversation today without hearing about workforce development, skills, and economic mobility. In most cases, post-graduation success, while personal in definition, is closely tied to securing a well-paying job (defined here as a job with compensation exceeding the local cost of living). And there are myriads of approaches, ideas, and efforts that we celebrate across the education ecosystem that focus on improving the preparation of students for jobs. But merely acquiring academic knowledge and credentials isn’t enough.

If higher education is to maintain its identity as a driver of economic mobility, then it must:

· Develop approaches that embody a full understanding of what it takes to secure a

good-paying job.

· Measure outcomes and link them to efforts, creating a feedback loop for continuous

improvement.

To achieve these goals, higher education needs to adopt a holistic approach that ensures students graduate with both technical expertise and real-world experience.

A SIX-PART FRAMEWORK

The New Playbook: Flexibility, Practicality, and Purpose

A recent podcast from The Chronicle of Higher Education (“Is Reading Over for Gen Z Students?”) reminds us that while some Gen Z learners still prefer structured learning paths, many do not want a rigid, cookie-cutter education model, craving the freedom to create their own learning journeys. For Gen Z, relevance is key and they prefer to blend coursework with internships, micro-credentials, and real-world projects. Many universities are already beginning to adapt by offering more experiential learning opportunities.

Universities like Northeastern, with its co-op program, provide great examples of how experiential learning can be integrated into curricula. Students build real-world portfolios through these opportunities, making them more attractive to employers. However, smaller and less resourced institutions can also implement incremental changes—such as piloting interdisciplinary projects or collaborating with local industries—to introduce practical experiences without overhauling their entire system.

Job Market Reality Check: More Competition, Fewer Guarantees

Geography remains a key factor in job availability, but remote work is opening up new opportunities while also increasing competition. To stand out, students need both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

Institutions like Purdue and Northeastern have successfully developed partnerships with employers to offer co-ops and internships. These collaborations provide students with the critical skills and professional networks needed to thrive in an increasingly crowded job market. Smaller colleges can take similar steps by building partnerships with local industries and designing programs that align directly with regional job demands. These collaborations provide students with a competitive edge, arming them with both the skills and the professional networks necessary to thrive in an increasingly crowded job market.

Social Connectedness: The Secret Sauce for Success

Social capital—the networks and connections that help unlock career opportunities—is crucial for economic mobility. Harvard’s Raj Chetty emphasizes the significant role social capital plays in career advancement. Unfortunately, many students from underrepresented backgrounds lack access to these networks. Universities will do well to stress the connection between social capital and chance of getting a desired job.

Institutions must address this disparity by fostering mentorship programs and alumni networks, but more importantly, by developing tailored support strategies. For example, partnerships with local industries that target underrepresented groups, financial aid for internships, and mentorship programs can help level the playing field. Additionally, universities should actively involve alumni and industry professionals in co-curricular activities, helping students build social capital while still in school.

The New Currency: Resilience, Adaptability, and Soft Skills

 In today’s competitive job market, technical skills alone are not enough. Soft skills—such as communication, adaptability, and resilience—have become key differentiators. Graduates must not only perform well but also market themselves, network, problem-solve, and recover from failure. These skills are critical through the job-seeking process and on the job once secured.

To nurture these skills, universities should adopt a “fail-forward” mentality, where students are encouraged to learn from mistakes and adapt. Faculty can collaborate with career services and industry professionals to design programs that incorporate resilience training, real-world problem-solving, and experiential learning. For example, interdisciplinary projects simulating real-world challenges can help students develop both technical and soft skills in tandem.

Rethinking the Curriculum: Streamline for Impact

It’s time for a deep, honest look at the curriculum. Why are we teaching each unit, topic, or skill? Are we doing it because that’s how it’s always been done? Or are we truly preparing students for today’s job market? My experience shows that there is significant room to streamline existing curricula by focusing on what really matters—whether for job readiness or building foundational skills.

Programs in engineering may overemphasize theoretical knowledge at the expense of hands-on skills, while humanities programs might lack clear connections to modern applications. Institutions should prioritize project-based learning, internships, and interdisciplinary courses that mirror real-world problems, encouraging students to develop skills like project management and teamwork.

Even smaller or less-resourced institutions can make meaningful progress by introducing interdisciplinary projects, forging local industry partnerships, and streamlining outdated content. Incremental changes can have a big impact.

Supporting Lifelong Learning

Higher education’s role does not end when students graduate. Institutions should offer ongoing support for alumni through career services, continuing education programs, and partnerships with companies offering upskilling opportunities. Lifelong learning is critical for career adaptability in a rapidly changing job market.

Universities that provide pathways for alumni to continuously develop skills not only improve their graduates’ long-term success but also strengthen their own reputations as hubs for lifelong education.

Measure, Learn, Improve

Implementing an approach without developing and implementing a comprehensive evaluation and feedback system will only go so far.

· Clearly define the outcomes they want for their students.

· Map activities to these outcomes, ensuring alignment between educational efforts

and job market needs.

· Develop evaluation plans that use diverse data sources to track success, particularly

focusing on underrepresented and non-traditional students.

· Hold regular learning sessions with stakeholders—faculty, career services, students,

and employers—to analyze data and make informed adjustments.

· Take concrete corrective actions based on these evaluations, continuously refining

programs to ensure they meet their goals. Do something with what you learned—

make sure your actions are tied to your evidence and that your resources are directed

to where you can make the most impact.

The Future of Higher Education: A Holistic Approach

The trust in higher education as a path to economic mobility will falter if institutions don’t evolve. Universities must embrace a holistic approach that prepares students for much more than just their first job—they must set them up for lifelong success.

By fostering collaboration across departments, career services, alumni relations, industry partners, and even ed tech professionals, institutions can provide an integrated learning experience. Faculty engagement and breaking down institutional silos are essential to making this shift. Incentives for faculty, shared governance, and cross-departmental collaborations will be key to success.

Institutions that adopt this holistic model will shape the next generation of leaders and position themselves as architects of economic mobility. The question is: Will your institution lead the way or be left behind?

Check out our infographic as a quick reference for these six-practice framework:

Download it here: