Higher education is at a dangerous crossroads due to the financial hardships of schools, dwindling support from generations due to the student loan crisis, and issues of demography. How will institutions of higher education adapt and compete with these issues? It’s an in-depth, deep-rooted one that requires many perspectives.
How higher education and the workforce is rapidly changing
Advances in technology and artificial intelligence are changing the nature of work and reshaping it. However, academia hasn’t caught up with these current technological advances, including AI. This lag is evident in the struggles of college graduates to find work that no longer exists, compared to when their parents graduated. We recently saw a new addition from Amazon with new delivery methods. A delivery method that cuts the middle person out completely and harnesses advanced, capable AI drone technology. Telemedicine is replacing in-person doctor and hospital visits more frequently since the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a new healthcare atmosphere. With the advances in smartphones and watches, diagnostic technology is readily available at your fingertips.
While students who majored in IT-related subjects at prestigious engineering-science-related universities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stevens Institute of Technology and others are offered high-paying jobs, they represent a minority of college graduates. The job landscape for many current and recent graduates is shrinking, and the competition for remaining jobs is becoming increasingly complex and intricate. As we move into the future, more and more people will be displaced by artificial intelligence, leading to fierce competition for employment opportunities. This is a tech revolution, and we are at the very beginning stages where we don’t have a complete replacement, but five to ten years from now, there will be more automation and more out-of-work.
More from UB: Why accessibility may be the key to future-proofing online education
Many college graduates find themselves in jobs that don’t align with their studies or degrees, a trend that is further exacerbated by the perpetual advances in artificial intelligence and technology. The urgency for academia and higher education institutions to recognize the rapid changes in the job market and the need for immediate adaptation is pressing. The jobs of the past and the educational credentials required for those jobs are rapidly disappearing, necessitating a reevaluation of standards and methods as the new world of work evolves daily.
How today’s institutions can adapt
One way universities can harness the power of learning and the importance of a degree is to emphasize long-term stability and purpose. There’s been much talk about introducing AI into the classrooms. This is another bold and innovative way to adapt teaching methods to this changing landscape. However, AI is still in its infancy and requires significant modifications to ensure students don’t use AI to steal others’ work. What’s the point of college and learning if AI will do the work for you? Colleges and universities have to start asking questions and figuring out how to implement AI within their schools appropriately and safely. Schools must foster an environment that ensures critical thinking, creativity, and originality.
Innovation is another way for schools to adapt to this shifting landscape. Schools should develop partnerships with big tech companies and add new AI-related programs. The University of Pennsylvania is one of the first major institutions to adopt a new area of study into AI. However, AI or artificial intelligence isn’t the only way schools should innovate. There also needs to be a human-centered focus in schools. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have been used to working from home and out of the office, which leads to a more lonely and individualistic society. There should be a multifaceted approach centered on technological and human innovation.
Many colleges and universities need to improve their career and counseling services to prepare students for today’s technology-driven job market. The traditional approach of focusing on resumes and cover letters is no longer effective due to high competition and companies’ use of AI in hiring. This is resulting in fewer job opportunities for recent graduates. To address this, colleges and universities should focus on enhancing their alumni networks to better support students in finding job opportunities. Additionally, students should be encouraged to build their online presence by creating professional websites, optimizing their LinkedIn profiles, and developing electronic personal portfolios.
Furthermore, students should consider selecting majors or areas of study that align with their skills and are relevant to the demands of the current job market. Students should also understand the importance of networking and adapting to the online opportunities available in the modern job market. We aim to collaborate with college and university career centers and implement our five-step plan to assist students in realizing their potential.
