Degrees aren’t getting graduates jobs. Here’s what can.

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4 ай бұрын

4-year college degrees don’t guarantee stable, fulfilling jobs. That’s why this team is working with employers to design a faster, more affordable way to equip worker’s for today’s jobs - and it could transform how we define “qualified”
For more stories, ideas, and advice from changemakers tackling our biggest challenges, subscribe to Stand Together ► / standtogethercc
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Higher education is at a crossroads, struggling to keep pace with the dynamic demands of the modern job market. Graduates often find themselves trapped in a cycle of underemployment, holding degrees that don't align with the skills employers are looking for. That’s why Education Design Lab is redefining the journey from school to the workplace through the concept of micro-pathways.
These innovative pathways prioritize skill-specific micro-credentials, designed with employers to meet the precise needs of today's workplace. By breaking down traditional degrees into more focused units of learning, they offer a laser-like precision in skill development, which can be readily applied across a range of industries and positions. The initiative, spearheaded by Don Fraser, has quickly gained momentum, with more than 50 community college systems collaborating to implement these programs nationwide.
But this movement transcends mere skill acquisition. It's about aligning individual talents with fulfilling careers and uniting employers with specifically equipped workers, empowering people to make meaningful contributions in a rapidly changing workforce. Education Design Lab unites the collaborative effort of learners, educators, and employers in co-designing these pathways, fostering a future where education is not just about degrees, but about unlocking potential and opportunities for all.
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Watch more videos about the changemakers transforming the future of work across America in our playlist ► • K-12 Education Revolution
And visit Stand Together’s website to learn more ► standtogether.org/

Пікірлер: 79

@randrothify 4 ай бұрын

Micro-credentials are not new. The real problem is the volatility in the economy and the skills needed to participate in this economy. Neither students nor schools can keep up with the pace of change. This leaves subjects guessing what they should study and schools guessing what they should teach. That is an expensive proposition in time, money, and effort. Micro-credentials don’t completely alleviate the problem and it is not realistic to expect students or schools to make speculative inferences about skills specific to individual industries or companies. Higher education was never meant to be vocational. It is meant to create good citizens of sound judgment and to educate by instilling critical thinking from which adaptability can bloom. Vocational training is why McDonald’s created their own Hamburger University and General Motors created the GMI Institute. If companies want to find better employees for their specific needs it’s time for them to stop shifting the burden solely to students and schools and have some skin in the training and development game.

@StandTogetherCC 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response and you bring up several important points. Micro-credentials offer one way to adapt by providing focused skill sets that align with evolving industry demands. Yet, it's acknowledged that this approach alone cannot fully bridge the gap between education and employment. The challenge of predicting future skills necessitates a collaborative effort beyond traditional educational or vocational training frameworks. Education Design Lab recognizes the importance of developing critical thinking and adaptability in students. By working directly with employers and educators, the aim is to co-design learning pathways that not only equip individuals with immediate, applicable skills but also foster a foundation for lifelong learning and adaptability. This collaborative model seeks to share the responsibility of preparing the workforce across all stakeholders, including businesses, which are encouraged to invest in developing talent pipelines that reflect their specific needs. If you'd like to learn more about their approach, check out standtogether.org/news/what-does-the-workforce-of-the-future-look-like/?STTOGTR_FT_2023_413678_YT_TRAFIC_ARTICLES&ARTL_EDL_V1_PHO&ORG

@dawnX2148 4 ай бұрын

Well stated; 'nuff said.

@raydengregg1699 4 ай бұрын

Bring back on the job training

@MattCRHughes 4 ай бұрын

I’m on my 3rd read-through of “Why Liberalism Failed” by Patrick Deneen, and the thing that keeps striking me the hardest is his dissection of what he terms “servile education.” College is not supposed to be about getting a job. However, we’ve reached the point where that’s a heretical thing to say. We need to return to a place where a university education is something you do to improve your critical thinking skills, rather than a 4-year party with watered-down standards so that everyone passes & schools keep collecting federal funding.

@StandTogetherCC 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. The transformation of university education from a journey of intellectual growth to a direct path to employment raises important questions. Education Design Lab champions a balanced approach, integrating skill-specific learning with traditional academics to foster both critical thinking and practical job readiness. This initiative aims to bridge the gap, ensuring education not only nurtures intellectual curiosity but also equips individuals with the skills needed in today’s job market, enabling a more fulfilling career path. If you'd like to learn more, please check out standtogether.org/news/what-does-the-workforce-of-the-future-look-like/?STTOGTR_FT_2023_413678_YT_TRAFIC_ARTICLES&ARTL_EDL_V1_PHO&ORG

@thewb8329 4 ай бұрын

The fact is that we have too many college graduates. For example, there are three times more law school graduates for every job available in the field of law practice. Most jobs don’t require a college degree but it has been a way to discriminate against people everything else being equal. Universities have become a booming industry selling something that is worthless to 2/3’s of graduates and half of attendees that drop out in the first year.

@StandTogetherCC 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for your comment and for watching our video! You've touched on a critical issue-the mismatch between college degrees and job market demands. It's clear we need to adapt our approach to education, focusing more on skills and real-world applicability. Your insights add greatly to the conversation on innovative pathways to career readiness!

@commonsense.1014 2 ай бұрын

@StandTogetherCC well suck me sideways skiter.. your saying I need 3 degrees and to work 4 jobs. Just to get paid as one person. Wild stuff.

@burazfly 4 ай бұрын

Yea, that is how online courses in IT are working at a moment. I know since I have 7 certificates already. You can study and work at the same time, which is much more stimulating than just going to college

@StandTogetherCC 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for engaging!

@hemlockVape 4 ай бұрын

Most employers don't examine people before hiring, not even a basic literacy test. If our education system has anything to do with it, I'd guess more than half of our occupations are filled by unfit personnel.

@StandTogetherCC 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for your insight. The gap between the skills employers need and what candidates offer is a real issue, emphasizing the importance of rethinking how we evaluate potential hires. Education Design Lab's solution is just one of many solutions that are tackling this problem through pioneering micro-pathways that align closely with the demands of today's job market, focusing on skills over degrees. To learn more, visit standtogether.org/news/what-does-the-workforce-of-the-future-look-like/?STTOGTR_FT_2023_413678_YT_TRAFIC_ARTICLES&ARTL_EDL_V1_PHO&ORG

@jcfranco231 4 ай бұрын

For me, the “what’s the catch?“ with this solution is the cost of such flexibility. Like with most things ‘custom’, there’s a premium that only a select few can afford.

@katedayton3746 4 ай бұрын

Great point. I wouldn’t have thought of it that way. I was just thinking how much I need this convenience, not all the stuff required to make it happen for some people.

@YouTenaza 4 ай бұрын

I partly agree. But custom doesn't necessarily mean "study the same amount of topics for years, but customized just for you". It can also mean. Study just some months and start working in something profitable. And that is good for low income families. Also a company will never pay a college degree to a student. But migut pay a course for some weeks of months in order to get new people into their industry. It still has drawbacks. I think is better than the "current" model.

@angeperdudw 4 ай бұрын

I just denied research funding to work on this issue. I thought there should just be a software that scans as many jobs in a filter as possible and shows you a pie chart about what skills are mentioned the most. It would at least help us see what is actually being asked for by employers. Then maybe it could be used in real time to watch trends in what employer listings say. At least we could see the changes and feel less worried that we can’t keep up. So I agree with this video, new ways need to be made!

@StandTogetherCC 4 ай бұрын

That's a great idea! Glad you agree! Thanks for commenting!

@Dayton1308 4 ай бұрын

I have a solution companies should pay for employees higher education for those who want promotions and higher pay. Instead of looking for the best talent they should create it. High school should also prepare young adults for the work of their choice to entry level roles for after graduation.

@beto.aveiga 4 ай бұрын

I don't see a big difference.

@fremontpathfinder8463 2 ай бұрын

But skilled degrees will get you a job- engineering etc. And jobs that have gatekeeper status- you must have a license or certification to enter. So yes a degree will get you a job but it depends on the degree and having more than one skill is important too

@WifeWantsAWizard 3 ай бұрын

(2:04) And there it is. Why would a computer programmer need PEOPLE skills? It's because the employer in question, instead of hiring two people to handle two jobs wants to "maximize shareholder value" by forcing a coder to leave the computer center and walk upstairs to sit at the front desk and greet people. This is about "multitasking"--the lie that companies are looking for resourceful people when in reality they are looking to have one person do the work of 2-3 jobs so they can take the extra cash and buy yachts and golf outings. This guy is making a profit off of the unemployed by crafting "multitakers" who will burn out helping some rich prick achieve his multi-mansion dreams. This man is NOT a hero.

@chaz-e 4 ай бұрын

But micro credentials are generally for < 1 year. And if students are looking for industry-relevant skills, they can quickly do so by joining Internships and OJTs.

@ThePrabutube 4 ай бұрын

Welcome to the new mumbo jumbo.. So called learning experts are the best in reinventing the wheel indefinitely.

@williamparrish2436 Ай бұрын

I'm the first person in my extended family to go to college. I was about halfway through my degree when I realized I had no clue how to get a job, and that college was no guarantee to get a job. I remember thinking, "Wait a minute... you I go through all this and their isn't a demand for what I learned?" It felt like the biggest scam. Now that I have a job in my field, I am glad that I went, even though I'm deep in debt. It gave me the skills to keep the job I got. Most people don't know what I know and that is why they fail at technical support. But there has to be a better way.

@mikeg3810 4 ай бұрын

That’s why the kids need to due their Research and now that a degree ain’t always necessary especially in the early stage of careers.

@bert3163 4 ай бұрын

Rather than *improved*, 4 years of ineffective, unaffordable undergrad is to be *supplemented* by 1-2 years of mediocre job training!? OMG.

@thatpitter 4 ай бұрын

Honestly I’d take that over 4 years of, “why am I paying for this again?”

@aware2action 4 ай бұрын

Employee screening is the issue. For entry level, any accumulated skills are overlooked, leading to a mismatch on expectations vs skillset utilization. On the other end, Experienced roles are screened for unnecessary additional skillsets, leading to jack of all trades, that do not perform well for their expected job function. Not sure, how this will be affected by micro skillset credits, since it will be equally overlooked by a prospective employer. Just some 💭

@Clarence_13x 4 ай бұрын

I think people’s IQ and intellectual curiosity have failed to grow along with the increasing complexities of technology. I’m mainly speaking about the people making hiring decisions.

@williamparrish2436 Ай бұрын

The problem isn't "collaboration skills". The problem is employers want something for nothing. They are like a short, bald guy with no money holding out for a supermodel that will be a traditional wife! And when they don't find that they say there is no one out there. Most of the empty jobs waiting to be filled fits this scenario. Entry level jobs that require 3-5 years of experience. And just like a passport bro, these jobs are going overseas to find people, then bringing them back. Its time to end the H1-B and make these companies train Americans.

@shaunmc013 2 ай бұрын

It’s not for College to keep up with the job market. Employers need to stop being cheap and start investing in training programs, to aid in creating the kind of employees that they’re looking to hire. It all comes down to what employers are looking for.. Higher Education is an institution of higher learning….. that’s it.. if he’s saying employers just need soft skills, any major in higher education will equip you with those skills..

@psikeyhackr6914 4 ай бұрын

Double entry accounting is 700 years old. There is an article from 2003 that said 5th graders could learn accounting as well as college students. Corporations started programming computers to do accounting in the 1950s. Why hasn't it been mandatory in high schools since Sputnik. Planned Obsolescence is bad for your Net Worth.

@ammcgroup6612 4 ай бұрын

Amazing! You catch me up.

@dedmo79 4 ай бұрын

college was never meant as a means to the end of “getting a job”, it was meant to teach you how to think. And that’s often what it did. Problem is, now too many college professors try to teach you WHAT to think, not HOW to think, and instead of turning their students into critical thinkers they turn them into unthinking activists who just toe a party line.

@LikFlyTuff 4 ай бұрын

Freaking agreeing so much at this

@josemakavela322 4 ай бұрын

@@LikFlyTuffit doesn't sound as wise as you think

@alize43m 4 ай бұрын

100k to learn to think?? Doesn't sound like a good financial decision

@TSYouTuber 4 ай бұрын

Have you actually been through a 4 year university degree program? I was never “indoctrinated” to a political party idea.

@AndreaCrisp 4 ай бұрын

My father, RIP, was a professor and would agree with most of your statement. I was the youngest of four, graduated University in 1998. He was very disappointed with my college education and even back then the costs were increasing nearly 10% a year. College is no longer teaching the foundational basics like it did 50 years ago. But the world is also a very different place. I would never recommend college as the only way to be successful now. But my generation was given that line of crap when it hasn't been true for decades. Institutions are too slow to make changes and modern life is changing faster and faster. With AI the growing pains and this reality (slow institutional change) may just well be the nail in the coffin. I think the future is going to be quite painful for most people unfortunately.

@BCc249 4 ай бұрын

Seems like to me hes describing what highschool used to be....

@harttdm 4 ай бұрын

Incredible! I know, you could call those skill categories “classes” and the badges “grades”. So unique. An engineering degree requires communications classes with public speaking, humanities classes like psychology and sociology, ethics, and many other non-engineering classes. The only problem with college is the other 90% of degrees that have no job associated with it. Those art history or philosophy degrees only turn into jobs if more students major in art history or philosophy. Any degree that only feeds the academic circle jerk need to be broken out and forced to stand on their own. They won’t, and the reduction in college population will drive prices down through competition. And yes, a bachelor’s in business from any school but Harvard is worthless. Even at Harvard it’s only in who you know.

@itsurguy7756 4 ай бұрын

This is why we need blockchain technology so we can use smart contracts and use these badges that store individual certified skill qualifications

@baihongliang 4 ай бұрын

I got micro-credentials in breathing air and walking with two feets

@arturonegretearte 4 ай бұрын

More credentials that will keep expanding the student debt…

@InOrlando 2 ай бұрын

Bootcamps already do this. It’s a better story telling here.

@pedrosampaio7349 4 ай бұрын

Universities were never meant for working people, very little in the world was originally meant for us working people. Only when people were in unions and organized movements and parties, when they made their own voice and force loud and clear, when western states were afraid of falling behind in education and science during the Cold War, did the university open up to the working class. Now the working class is weak and the politicians and money men have long not been afraid of us, and so slowly, even in places like Scandinavia, the benefits of old are whittled away. Soon, the university might again be a rich person's toy. People should take power over their economy and their politics, should understand how and why these things happen, or short of that, organize. Empowerment, focus and then action is needed.

@nathanpenner2966 4 ай бұрын

lol

@rickdeleroy 4 ай бұрын

This guy is no expert.

@tedtalksrock 4 ай бұрын

Exactly. He has no idea what “education” actually means. His “gps” analogy is ridiculous and already has a name ‘credential ing’. Unf., credentialing is not education. Arguably, it’s the movement away from classical liberal education (that thought students how to be critical readers, writers, and thinkers) and toward more credential based education that has made college education more inapplicable to a changing world, because the credentials of today rapidly become obsolete. Whereas, if you learn HOW to learn, you are equipped for a changing world.

@paulbradbury5792 4 ай бұрын

If you need to watch a video like this to educate yourself or anything, you don't know anything about how the world works and are likely missing a lot of common sense

@blogdesign7126 4 ай бұрын

Yes the hype is at play here. Where is the reality and data is not seen for now until proven otherwise.

@tedtalksrock 4 ай бұрын

This guy has no idea what “education” actually means. His “gps” analogy is ridiculous and already has a name ‘credential ing’. Unf., credentialing is not education. Arguably, it’s the movement away from classical liberal education (that thought students how to be critical readers, writers, and thinkers) and toward more credential based education that has made college education more inapplicable to a changing world, because the credentials of today rapidly become obsolete. Whereas, if you learn HOW to learn, you are equipped for a changing world.