Social intelligence tells us that prospective students seek peer guidance on social media and Reddit about if and where to go to college nearly 10x more than they did 10 years ago. The authentic and unfiltered insights from social intelligence give you a deeper understanding of the voices in your community and enable you to design and assess programs with learners at the center.
Our research on public trust in higher education found that the public equates trust with value, believing the purpose of college is to gain value from the degree. More than 30% of people connected a degree to increased opportunities such as diversified career paths, higher long term earning potential, or larger networks.
Additional research about the college decision process highlights the value of learning transferable skills and gaining work experience. Nearly 20% of the conversation encouraged students to gain “employability skills” and focus on developing practical, transferable skills allowing them to keep their options open. Students also prioritize the internship experience, believing it’s critical to securing a job after graduation.
The insight into what students want—clear outcomes, career exploration and preparation, hands-on learning—is an opportunity to showcase degree outcomes highlighting transferable skills and experiential learning during the recruitment process.
Apply the insights to actionable strategies to help you demonstrate your commitment to integrating educational aspiration and workforce development to support the career readiness and hands-on learning your stakeholders tell you they want.
Students and families want to understand the benefits of a degree. Use available data, such as graduation data, job placement data, and alumni data, for actionable insights and data storytelling. Collaborate with your alumni team and use their data to inform marcomm strategy and effectively leverage your resources. Storytelling around degree outcomes also helps illustrate how your campus drives regional economic growth to campus leaders, legislators, and the public.
Siena Heights University’s marketing and advancement teams collaborate to expand their career outcomes storytelling. The strategy highlights their commitment to meeting students’ needs by further integrating academic and career objectives with their liberal arts education. Alumni spotlight stories demonstrate outcomes from science degrees, occupational studies, data analytics, and design.
Employers increasingly seek graduates who can contribute technical skills, but also “soft” skills. Infuse transferable skill practice into curriculum and coursework to ensure students learn holistically ahead of graduation.
The University of Tampa’s Spartan Ready® program uses classes and co-curricular experiences to help students master academic achievement, career readiness, life preparedness, and social mobility. The program’s pillars support training in communication, critical thinking, global fluency, interpersonal abilities, life skills, leadership, professionalism, self-awareness, teamwork, and digital literacy—life skills education that enhances students’ employability and provides increased career flexibility.
Assess your regional workforce needs and know how your campus currently meets those needs.
The University of Arkansas–Fort Smith (UAFS) developed the five Centers for Excellence to address regional industry goals and workforce needs. Each center offers programs and spaces for subject matter experts and industry leaders to work together on solutions in art and design, advanced manufacturing, economic development, computer and data science, and health sciences. The university contributed to an estimated $142.7 million in economic impact, and continues to explore innovative ways to support its region.
Boise State University’s Small Business Development Center has helped entrepreneurs generate over $750 million in business sales, create or retain 2,009 jobs, and secure $63 million in capital. Consultants helped Idahoans create 122 new businesses, with reach that extends into the state’s rural communities. As the engine behind the state’s workforce, the university touts an economic impact of $1.6 billion with Idaho taxpayers receiving a return of 2.5 times for every tax dollar allocated to the university.
Career preparation is at the heart of what students want. Build it into your curriculum, coursework, academic advising conversations, and student life experiences to increase the ROI of your degree experience. Consider how stackable credential pathways could fit into your community to support career preparedness for both traditional and non-traditional students.
Drexel University’s cooperative education program gives students up to 18 months to explore and experience three different career opportunities. The innovative program enables students to test-drive potential careers and build their resume before graduating. Key metrics highlight the value of the program with 61% of all graduates receiving at least one job offer upon graduation and significantly increasing their earning potential with an ROI of $508,000.
Create opportunities across students, faculty, and alumni for professional networking, connections, and guidance in and out of the classroom. A Student Voice survey from Inside Higher Ed found that students want a high level of involvement from faculty and career advisors in career preparation.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison provides career mentoring opportunities. The program includes peer mentoring, mentor-mentee dyads, resource groups, and mentor networks to enhance students’ professional identity, increase career satisfaction, and support recruitment.
Many other campuses have models that use mentor programs to support students’ career and personal development.
Students often seek advice on how to secure internship opportunities. Help them bridge the gap by connecting current interns with prospective students to see the value of the program your campus provides and how it works.
The University of California Los Angeles has an internship alumni network that was founded by former alumni. It supports student career development through internships and mentoring. They empower students to secure internships, serve as a resource, and encourage alumni to hire current UCLA students.
Tap into key employers and alumni networks to identify opportunities to build or expand internship opportunities for current students and recent graduates. Review top geographic areas where your graduated students reside and ensure you have employer relationships and internship opportunities in place in those regions.
Utah Valley University partners with Utah-based companies to offer workplace learning. For example, a partnership with a technology company provides scholarships and fellowships for students pursuing cybersecurity and intelligence careers. Employers often praise the quality of UVU students and make an effort to hire their interns.
Explore the findings in our research brief: The Importance of Transferable Skills and Work Experience in College Decision Making.