AAC&U's 2018 Employer Research: Liberal Education and the Future of Work

This webinar was part of a series that highlighted the work being done at colleges and universities around the country to address challenges and identify best practices for enhancing the teaching and learning experience and demonstrating the value of liberal education for work, life, and global citizenship.

As part of the Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP) initiative, AAC&U periodically commissioned national surveys to examine trends related to college graduates and the most important learning experiences and outcomes they need to navigate the global economy successfully. This webinar marked the release of AAC&U’s latest employer survey, funded by AAC&U and Newman’s Own Foundation. This new research, “Fulfilling the American Dream: Liberal Education and the Future of Work,” had several objectives:

• Gauging the degree to which business executives and hiring managers believe that a college education is important and worthwhile
• Discerning the learning outcomes they believe are most important for success in today’s economy
• Determining how prepared recent college graduates are in these areas
• Understanding the range of professional development opportunities that employers are providing to their employees

In addition to summarizing the key findings of this research, this webinar included college and university leaders who shared their perspectives regarding the implications for higher education. They also considered it within the context of other recent research regarding perceptions of higher education.

Webinar attendees received access to the full report and companion materials, which they could use to communicate the findings to a variety of audiences, including students, parents, faculty, community members, and others.