In today’s fast-paced world, education needs to go beyond traditional teaching. Inspired by John Dewey’s idea of “education as life itself,” the focus should be on what students can actually do, not just what they know.
The 2024 Graduate Employability Report from Cengage Group highlights a big issue: many new grads end up in jobs that don’t use their degrees. This gap shows that our education system needs to better match what employers need CG-2024-Employability-S.
To bridge this gap, we need to emphasize practical, job-ready skills. The report suggests integrating hands-on learning and new technologies like generative AI (GenAI) into education. Dewey’s approach to learning through experience fits perfectly here—students learn best when they can apply their knowledge in real-world scenarios.
By focusing on skills and competencies, we can prepare students to navigate and succeed in their careers. The goal is to create well-rounded individuals who are not just knowledgeable but also capable of using their skills effectively in a constantly changing world.
The 2024 Graduate Employability Report points out that educators are already making strides by including more skills-based learning in their programs. This is the way forward—to ensure students are ready for whatever the future holds CG-2024-Employability-S.
