Are universities really preparing students for the working world?

Feb. 22, 2019

What you learn in school about a given field will almost certainly change by the time you enter that field.

By Alex Adamopoulos for Forbes

Higher education is judged based on the value it imparts to graduates. But that value is almost always characterized in terms of what kind of degree the student leaves with. Once you enter the working world, degrees don’t really matter; job recruiters aren’t breathing down your neck about your GPA.

What companies are really looking for, and the kinds of employees who end up excelling at their work, are those with transferable skills — the capacity for problem-solving, teamwork, decision-making and critical thinking. These are the traits that matter most in workers, yet universities are not doing enough to ensure that students are graduating with these skills under their belt.

What you learn in school about a given field will almost certainly change by the time you enter that field. What never changes, though, is the value that you bring to the table — in any job, in any industry — by mastering those transferable skills.

To learn more, read "Universities Should Be About Transferable Skills And Continuing Education" from Forbes.

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector.