Todays higher education system is being criticized for its cost, its failure to provide job-ready skills and its unequal access to quality programs. Despite these criticisms, the traditional higher education system retains a strong value for individuals and is the foundation of many societies that specify it as an element of their zeitgeist. Although the traditional model of higher education is generally respected and has been successful for a number of years, there are several reasons why it must be disrupted in order to better serve the students of today.
The primary reason that the traditional higher education model needs to be disrupted is the increasing cost of attendance. According to the College Board, tuition, room and board costs have nearly tripled since the early 1980s and continue to rise faster than the rate of inflation. As a result, many people are unable to attend college due to the high costs and cumbersome loan requirements. To make matters worse, the College Board estimates that almost one-third of college graduates have an unmanageable level of student loan debt. Clearly, a new approach is needed to make education more affordable and accessible to students.
Secondly, the traditional higher education system has been criticized for not preparing students with the job-ready skills they need to succeed once they enter into the workforce. Employers increasingly require skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, and digital literacy that are not taught in traditional classrooms. In addition, many employers find traditional college degrees to be irrelevant and prefer to hire people with practical experience to fill their employment gaps. These factors have resulted in a large number of students graduating with degrees but few employment opportunities. Thus, colleges must adopt curriculums that develop the skills necessary to become successful professionals.
Finally, the traditional higher education system has been criticized for its unequal access to quality programs. Many individuals in lower-income areas are unable to attend college because quality programs are not available in their geographic location. Furthermore, the high cost of tuition and on-campus housing is cost prohibitive for many lower-income students, making college attendance a difficult prospect. Colleges must work to reduce the cost of tuition and make quality programs available in areas where access is a challenge.
The traditional higher education system has been successful for many years, but it is clear that changes must be made in order to better serve the students of today. Through a disruption of the traditional model, colleges can make education more affordable and accessible, ensure that students are graduating with the skills necessary to succeed in the workforce, and strive to provide equal access to all. Consequently, these changes will help students realize their full potential and ensure that our society is better prepared to face the challenges of the future.
