In her book "Who Needs College Anymore?", Kathleen deLaski explores the skills-based education movement and its potential to revolutionize higher education. As the founder of the Education Design Lab, she emphasizes the need for colleges to offer alternative pathways that focus on skills rather than traditional degrees. DeLaski argues that while durable, or soft skills, remain essential, their intangible nature makes it harder for graduates to market them effectively. She highlights the declining reputation of colleges stemming from concerns about affordability and the perceived disconnection between degree programs and actual job readiness.
I think durable skills are as important as ever, if not more important. That's certainly what surveys suggest, and employers say they care about them. But I would argue that consumers don't see the value proposition when they look at their four-year degree gauntlet.
One of the main points of the book is that college is losing its reputation, if you will, because of two big things. One is the perception of affordability, and the second is a view that what they might learn in a four-year degree is not relative enough to getting hired and getting into the workplace.
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