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Students, Colleges or Businesses? Which Needs to Change Most?

I'm on a board of advisors for an initiative focused on getting more young people to stay, work and play in the state of New Hampshire. We are a graying state (average age is 40+), and worried about the impact this could have on our state's future. Our board's goal is to bring education, government and business together to find ways to get more young people to settle here after college. During a recent meeting, we discussed the impact the recession has had on college enrollment. A fellow board member who works in the university system made a very powerful comment:
Five years ago, the #1 question parents asked when taking a campus tour was, "Will my child be safe?" Today, the #1 question is, "Will my child get a job after they attend?"
Colleges Respond With Marketing Tactics, But Is It Enough?
Colleges are definitely switching gears and aiming to provide parents with proof their investment in a degree for their child is a good one. Many schools are now renovating their career centers and making them a stop on the campus tour. This article by Google shows how Youtube videos and other materials are being used by colleges to woo students to their schools - and for good reason! A study shows 77% of education seekers are using online research to help them decide which schools to visit.
But, does going to a college that says it understands the need for graduates to be employable solve the problem? The answer is definitely, "no." Here's why...
On-the-Job Training Is Gone - And Nothing Took It's Place!
Even if all colleges ramp up their career services and online marketing efforts, it won't prepare graduates for the professional world. Without work experience, students don't get the basic skills needed to hit the ground running in an entry-level job.
There was a time when a good number of businesses in America had apprenticeship and on-boarding programs graduates would enter after college. But today, companies have put the responsibility for gaining those critical career skills back on the student. For example, studies show apprenticeships are way down in the U.S.. Unfortunately, the student (and their parents!), wrongly assume they're getting those skills as part of the college tuition. However, college curriculum isn't designed to provide the hands-on experience employers demand. Yes, some students are savvy enough to seek out and complete internships while in college. But, the majority of students find their plate is full with school work and tend not to focus on professional work experience until they graduate. After all, that was their reason for getting the degree - the promise of better career opportunities.
What Do YOU Think Students, Colleges & Corporations Should Do?
Readers, what do you think about the following:
  • Should students and their tuition-paying parents focus more on getting internships to supplement the college experience? If so, how?
  • Should colleges revamp their curriculum to close the skill gap? Are any schools modeling the way on this?
  • Should companies bring back apprenticeships and start training young professionals again? If so, which companies are you seeing excel in this right now?
  • Or, is there another angle not mentioned here?
I'd love to see your responses in the comments below.

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