A recent survey shows that employers prioritize critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills over specific majors for career success, with 91% emphasizing broad learning experiences. Both employers and students recognize the value of applied learning projects, but there is a disconnect in perceptions of preparedness, with students feeling more prepared than employers believe. Overall, employers support the inclusion of intercultural skills and diverse experiences in college curricula to enhance long-term career readiness.

1. Sources: *Hart Research Associates. Forthcoming. Falling Short? College Learning and Career Success.
Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities.
**Gallup. 2014. Great Jobs, Great Lives: The 2014 Gallup-Purdue Index Report. Washington, DC: Gallup.
AAC&U CENTENNIAL SYMPOSIUM
America’s Global Future:
Are College Students Prepared?
Connecting College Learning and Career Success
Employers prioritize liberal and applied learning for all college students.
 Nearly all employers (91 percent) agree that for career success, “a candidate’s demonstrated
capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more
important than his or her undergraduate major.”*
 Nearly all employers (96 percent) agree that “all college students should have experiences
that teach them how to solve problems with people whose views are different from
their own.”
 More than three-quarters (78 percent) agree that “all college students should gain
intercultural skills and an understanding of societies and countries outside the
United States.”
Employers endorse broad learning as essential to long-term career success.
 When hiring recent graduates, employers place the greatest priority on a demonstrated
proficiency in skills and knowledge that cut across majors. Of 17 outcome areas tested,
written and oral communication, teamwork skills, ethical decision making, critical
thinking, and the ability to apply knowledge in real-world settings are the most highly
valued by employers.*
 Confirming findings from four previous national surveys extending back to 2006, employers
overwhelmingly endorse broad learning and cross-cutting skills as the best preparation for
long-term career success. When asked in the latest survey, only 15 percent chose field-
specific learning alone as the best preparation for long-term success.*
Employers strongly endorse an emphasis on applied learning and view student
work on applied learning projects as valuable preparation for work. Students
agree that applied learning projects are valuable.
 73 percent think that requiring college students to complete a significant applied learning
project before graduation would improve the quality of their preparation for careers.*
 60 percent think that all students should be expected to complete a significant applied
learning project before graduating.*
 87 percent of employers agree that they are somewhat or much more likely to consider a
graduate as a job candidate if she or he has completed a senior project.*
 Gallup reports that college graduates who did internships, were involved in extracurricular
activities, and worked on a project that took a semester or more to complete were twice as
likely to be engaged at work. Only 6 percent of graduates report experiencing all three of
these things. About one-third report doing a significant project.**
 89 percent of students agree that doing an applied learning project would increase their
likelihood of being hired.*

2. Source: *Hart Research Associates. 2015. Falling Short? College Learning and Career Success.
Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities.
Students feel more prepared in key areas than employers think recent college
graduates are.
Proportions Who Believe They/Recent College Graduates Are Well Prepared in Each
Area*
Employers give college graduates low scores
for preparedness across learning outcomes;
students think they are better prepared.
42%
34%
43%
55%
44%
48%
59%
59%
57%
66%
65%
55%
62%
64%
62%
46%
64%
15%
16%
18%
18%
21%
21%
23%
24%
25%
26%
27%
28%
28%
29%
30%
37%
37%
Employers Students
Proportions saying they/recent college graduates are well prepared in each area†
†8-10 ratings on zero-to-ten scale
Working with others
in teams
Staying current on
technologies
Ethical judgment and
decision making
Locating, organizing,
evaluating information
Oral communication
Working with numbers/
statistics
Written communication
Critical/analytical
thinking
Being innovative/
creative
Analyzing/solving
complex problems
Applying knowledge/
skills to real world
Awareness/experience
of diverse cultures in US
Staying current on
developments in science
Working with people
from diff. backgrounds
Staying current on
global developments
Proficient in other
language
Awareness/experience
of diverse cultures
outside US