Seventy-eight percent of employers report that hiring depends more on experience, practical sense, and ability to do the job, rather than academic major, according to a recruiting trends report by the Collegiate Employment Research Institute. As hiring becomes more skills-based, academic programs must look for innovative ways to incorporate internships, experiential learning opportunities, and credential programs into their offerings.
The Chronicle's report,
"Career-Ready Education," explores the forces driving change and the challenges ahead, strategies for building effective relationships with employers, and ways to structure academic programs to foster employability. By innovating from within, institutions can adapt their programs to better prepare students to start or advance their careers.
