College Learning for the New Global Century - 14

Employers Endorse New vision of Liberal Education

• Employers strongly endorse the practices that characterize liberal edu-

cation. When presented with a description and asked how important they feel it is for colleges and universities to provide a liberal education, employers overwhelmingly recognize it as important (see figure 3).

FIGuRE 3
EMPLoyERS ENDoRSE LIBERAL EDuCATIoN AS PREFERRED APPRoACH
Employers were asked “How important is it for today’s colleges and universities to provide the type of education described below?” This particular approach to a four-year college education provides both broad knowledge in a variety of areas of study and more in-depth knowledge in a specific major or field of interest. It also helps students develop a sense of social responsibility, as well as intellectual and practical skills that span all areas of study, such as communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills in real-world settings. Business Leaders

In addition, seventy-six percent of employers would recommend this type of education to a young person they know.
Source: How Should Colleges Prepare Students To Succeed in Today’s Global Economy? AAC&U/ Peter D. Hart Research, 2007.

In sum, employers do not necessarily use the vocabulary of “liberal education.” But when asked about the learning students need from college, they give responses that address all the broad areas of knowledge and skill that are central to a strong liberal education. Campus leaders can use these survey findings to build public and student understanding that the learning outcomes that characterize liberal education have become essential, not elective. In an economy fueled by innovation, the outcomes of a liberal education have become the essential passport to economic opportunity. And as campus leaders consider strategies for assessing student cumulative learning, employers clearly recommend more integrated and applied learning assessments for all students. The question confronting higher education is whether it can and will meet this challenging standard for inclusive excellence.

14 AAC&U | Executive Summary

College Learning for the New Global Century

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