College Students Want Work-Based Learning Experiences

"The economy is uncertain, but eight in 10 undergraduates somewhat or strongly agree that their college is preparing them with the skills, credentials and experiences they need to succeed in today's job market. At the same time, most students are stressed about the future. Their biggest stressors vary but include not being to afford life after graduation, not having enough internship or work experience to get a job, and feeling a general pressure to succeed."

"What can colleges do to help? The No. 1 thing Student Voice respondents want their institution to prioritize when it comes to career readiness is help finding and accessing paid internships. No. 2 is building stronger connections with potential employers. Colleges and universities could also help students better understand outcomes for past graduates of their programs: Just 14 percent of students say their college or university makes this kind of information readily available."

"Shawn VanDerziel, president and CEO of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), said there's "no doubt that the college experience equips students with a lifelong foundation for the general job market," so it's "heartening to hear" they have confidence that their academic programs are setting them up to succeed. The challenge, however, "often becomes putting that learning and experience into the job market context-translating and articulating the experience that is meaningful to employers," he added."

Eight in 10 undergraduates somewhat or strongly agree that college prepares them with skills, credentials and experiences needed for today's job market. Most students report stress about the future, citing inability to afford life after graduation, insufficient internship or work experience, and pressure to succeed as top stressors. Students prioritize help accessing paid internships and stronger employer connections. Only 14 percent say institutions make graduate-outcome information readily available. Colleges need to help students articulate competencies to employers and scale experiential learning, especially paid internships, which provide measurable job-market advantages.

Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs