Recent Accomplishments.

The last time we posted an update, we had just been awarded a supplemental grant from the National Science Foundation, we were doing analytical coding, and it was very cold.  Not only have we accomplished a lot since then, but was almost 70 degrees outside this week! 

For example, we are working on a book deal, with a final draft due in Spring of 2016 (a quick turnaround, right?).  While the book will focus on the question of how educational and industry fields align in preparing students for successful lives and careers, it will also concentrate on a few talented instructors with whom we have interacted across the state.  The aim? To highlight their curricular, instructional, and advising practices and better understand how they cultivate valued competencies in the classroom.  The book will also generally emphasize the importance of partnerships between educators and employers. 

Besides the book deal and the supplemental grant, the team completed the herculean process of analytically coding every interview from this study (over 150 people talked to us).  Analysis of ALL of the free list data has started, and we have outlined the first paper to come out of the study – actually, parts of it have already been composed!  

We are looking forward to sharing more with you as we continue to develop our findings.  In the meantime, we will keep on analyzing, writing, and disseminating our results in a variety of ways.

We are making some serious progress!

Inside Higher Ed Op-Ed.

We had an op-ed published in Inside Higher Ed today!

The intention of the piece is to get more people to think about the current rhetoric surrounding the “skills gap” as well as subsequent policy responses at the state and national level.  We argue that Governor Walker and President Obama’s approach to the “skills gap” is problematic, bolstering our case with a sneak peek at data we have collected in the field over the last year and a half.  Since this is the first time we have publicized results, we are anxiously awaiting feedback and comments.  (In fact, you should probably go read the article and leave a comment right now).

As you’ll see, the article discusses some of our more surprising findings.  For example, educators and employers believe that “work ethic” plays a very significant role in workers’ success.  Employers and educators alike also cited an interesting suite of skills as being important for success, including so-called “hard” skills like technical knowledge or technical abilities, and “soft” skills like lifelong learning, communication, and teamwork.  While the data in part confirms recent trends, our unique methodological approach will allow us to better understand how key stakeholders look at these important issues.  Participants said some pretty fascinating things about these skills and the roles they play in success.

We conclude the piece, first, with three important recommendations for business and postsecondary leaders: (1) appreciate how a liberal and general education prepares students for the workforce, (2) support educators in using active learning techniques in the classroom, and (3) create opportunities to foster partnerships between educators and employers.

We also end by pointing out that the current debate would benefit from a much more open discussion of one important question: what is the purpose of higher education in the United States of the 21^st century?     

What do YOU think?