INSIGHTS FROM TEXAS EDUCATORS
Top 3 Factors
Impacting
Workforce
Preparedness
Over 200 educators in higher education across the state of Texas agree that skill development, digital badges and credentials, and job placement are the top factors impacting students when it comes to workforce preparedness. Learn how each of them rank in ensuring a smooth transition for students from campus to their careers.
Learn How These 3 Factors Rank
#1 Skill Development
It’s no surprise that 83% of respondents said skill development is important or very important for preparing students to enter the workforce. However, respondents agreed that helping students develop soft skills (92%) related to how they work and interact with others, is slightly more important than measurable and job-specific hard skills (87%). Still, providing students with on-the-job training opportunities such as apprenticeships or internships remains a top priority, as well as providing extra-curricular programming on campus to align course content with the skills desired by employers.
Key Focus Areas
- Soft Skills
- Hard Skills
- On-the-Job Training
- Curriculum Alignment
- Extra/Co-Curricular Programs
Soft Skills
Prioritizing group projects in coursework helps students build interpersonal skills such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability.
Hard Skills
Making competency-based training programs part of course curriculum helps students build job-specific, measurable skills and technical know-how.
On-the-Job Training
Partnering with local organizations to offer apprenticeships and internships allow students to apply what they've learned in real-world scenarios.
Curriculum Alignment
Ensuring course content reflects the skills employers are looking for helps students stay competitive in the job market.
Extra/Co-Curricular Programs
Additional working opportunities outside the classroom help students gain a diverse set of skills that complement their formal education and help them apply their skills in new ways.
Digital Badges &
Credentials
Ensuring students develop skills for their chosen field is only part of the process. Of our respondents, 76% said that directing students towards credentials also plays a key role in career readiness, as digital badging provides a seamless way to share and validate skills with employers.
Key Benefits
Create a Pathway to Success
Help students navigate their academic and co-curricular journeys with a custom roadmap for building new skills in their chosen fields.
Transform Student Portfolios
Beyond traditional forms of competency, such as grades, transcripts, and degrees, digital badges are proving to offer a scalable system for helping students develop a digital portfolio of work that can be easily shared with employers.
Streamline the Screening Process
Enable the departure from traditional employer screening processes by providing a clearer view of a student’s abilities and potential.
Providing credentials outside of a 4-year degree from a recognized university is valuable because it helps fill gaps people have that might be preventing them from moving to the next level in their job or getting a new job.
LMS Administrator,
Public University in East Texas
Employment Placement
Over 80% of respondents emphasized the importance of preparing students for successful entry into the workforce. Effective employment placement strategies play a pivotal role in this by ensuring students are job-ready and connected with the right opportunities upon program completion.
Key Strategies
Partner with Local Employers
Developing strong relationships with local organizations can help students navigate the transition from education to employment.
Align Student Jobs to Career Goals
Helping students find jobs that match their career aspirations boosts job satisfaction and retention.
Offer Career Services
Comprehensive career services, like resume building and interview coaching, provide students with the skills and confidence needed to stand out in a competitive job market.
We need to partner with different businesses to formalize a place for students to have internships and things like that, which will set them up for career success.
Instructional Designer,
Regional University in East Texas
SEE OTHER INSIGHTS FROM 200+ EDUCATORS ON
Shaping the Future of Texas Higher Education:
The Path from Campus to Career
Powering Future-Ready Education with Instructure
Please visit the Texas Research Overview page to learn more about the survey methodology and respondent demographics.