Restructuring educational institutions and models to keep pace with the changing times have been a challenge for educators and policymakers. For some years now, employers have raised their concerns about the growing disconnect between education and employability. While the cost of higher education is constantly rising, in many cases, educational institutions are failing to reach the desired standards of education. Across the globe, there are similar problems. In India, the budget for education allocated during the 2022 Union Budget was increased by 11.86 percent from the year before. At the same time, in the last month alone, unemployment rate in India soared to 8.3 percent.
Employers are finding two alternative ways to address the talent shortage issue caused by the industry-academia gap. On one hand, companies have started to decrease their dependency on college education. Even market leading companies like Apple, Google and Netflix don’t require their workers to have four year degrees. Many companies are following suit and it might soon become the industry norm. Secondly, companies are looking at alternate educational pathways to find employable talent. Programs like Grow with Google and Google Career Certificates are great examples of this. While traditional higher education has multiple positive attributes attached to it, it is high time that higher educational institutions find effective solutions for the dire situation they are in. Let’s analyze some of the innovative educational models that can help educational institutions to turn things around for the better.
The New Educational Institution Method
In a project done by the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, the people involved had a unique objective. It was to imagine a new institution that provides top-notch and affordable bachelor’s-level education in the areas of business, computer science and engineering. The project prioritized on pedagogy, faculty, and stackable credentials. They also focused on the academic calendar, and co-op programs within the bachelor’s degree. This model will be primarily residential. At the same time, teaching will be mostly done through the flipped classroom model. The lecture material will be presented digitally. Then, during the actual class time, focus will be given to discussions, hands-on problem solving, coaching etc. The model also proposes a four year curriculum with 11 trimesters while still offering enough healthy breaks for the students.
The Jenga Model of Education
In this model, students are expected to start their studies right after university entrance qualification. Students study full-time for three years where they will acquire basic knowledge as well as skills. The fact that the initial university period is shorter makes it a much more appealing option for non-traditional students. That said, this education model assumes that the students will work on improving their knowledge through additional modules. The model aspires to bring in much needed flexibility into university education and by doing so, offering better future-proof education. For this, programs should be designed in such a way that it has a longer perspective. The model also promotes self-learning and self-organization where the students learning and personal development goes along a well-defined learning path. It will also have fixed steps and clear results. In the first phase of the model, students will primarily learn from the campus itself. This learning will be supported by global communication networks, simulations and augmented reality techniques. Then, the students will establish the connections with the future world. For this, internships, and makerspaces will be utilized. After successful completion of their education, the university will also help the learners to prepare for the transition from students to professionals.
French private computer science school 42 is a prime example of an institution that focuses on not only developing the self-learning but also the soft-skills of students. The institute also lays major emphasis on helping students develop their soft skills. Like in the model, the institute also aspires to offer direct access into the labor market. On top of that, access to the institute is free and it is structured like a computer game. After finishing the entrance exam, each student will work on consecutive series of projects. Simultaneously, students will also provide feedback on others projects. One of the biggest perks of the education model followed by the institute is that, with the help of technology, it can be cost-effectively implemented. In a world where specific programming languages become obsolete quickly, the institute enables the learners to acquire key competencies. The self-learning and self-organization they develop during their time at the institute will also help them in their professional lives and further studies.
The Lego Model
This is a great educational model for those who prefer a highly customizable learning path. The model, like the name suggests combine various learning units. This will be offered online and on-campus. Another specialty of this model is that the learning units will be provided by different universities and new educational providers. By doing so, this chain of learning units will become the learner’s personal study process. The central idea of this model is also unique. It aims to cater to students who are strongly self-motivated. The individual aspect of this educational model makes it a great fit for professions that require specific skills.
DNB which is the biggest financial services group in Norway has an ambitious education strategy. Rapidly evolving with the changing times, the company now has thousands of employees who have free access to myriad of digital-educational content. This allows their employees to pick and choose the things they want to learn. The employees can also decide the amount of time they want to invest in training. Going the digital route, DNB ASA has been able to do three things: reach out to more employees, offer them wider educational opportunities, and find a cost-effective educational model. It also shows how the lego model can be implemented in large organizations.
These aforementioned educational models allow higher education institutions, learners as well as employers to meet their requirements much more efficiently. For students, these models allow them to have greater control of what they want to learn while still helping them to progress as an individual. By embracing the individuality of each student and by helping them acquire the relevant skills and knowledge, these new educational models enable students to build a successful professional career.
