In the months since the world has been embroiled in a global pandemic, there has been considerable dialogue and debate about how higher education should both cope with its immediate threat while also considering pivots toward new models and innovations for the future. And for as many quotes as there have been about “never letting a crisis go to waste,” the reality is that most universities are indeed wasting it. Higher education leaders have been utterly consumed by the here and now. Somehow, they must create the time and intentionality for innovation. Here are 8 ideas worth implementing immediately:
1. Focus on producing ‘triple threat’ graduates.
Arguably the single greatest critique of higher education is that its graduates are not work ready. At a time when the return on investment is being debated more seriously than ever before, universities that clearly articulate (and deliver on) the value proposition of work readiness for graduates will stand-out to both prospective students and to the employers hiring them on the other end. A triple threat graduate possesses an internship, a long-term project and an industry-recognized credential along with their degree.