编者按: 选择去国外留学的学生经常会面临许多关系自己未来人生的选择难题,其中最基本的莫过于专业选择的问题。因为迷茫,所以他们只愿意相信名校;因为不自信,所以他们只愿意相信最热门的专业,他们做的从来都不是自己的选择。殊不知,如何提高自己的辩证思维和解决问题的能力远比学校和专业来得重要。
The Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) released today a report, It Takes More Than a Major: Employer Priorities for College Learning and Student Success, summarizing the findings of a national survey of business and nonprofit leaders. Among other things, the survey reveals that 74 percent of business and nonprofit leaders say they would recommend a twenty-first century liberal education to a young person they know in order to prepare for long-term professional success in today’s global economy.
Key findings:
Innovation a Priority
Nearly all employers surveyed (95 percent) say they give hiring preference to college graduates with skills that will enable them to contribute to innovation in the workplace.
92 percent agree that “innovation is essential” to their organization’s continued success.
Cross-Cutting Capacities vs. Choice of Undergraduate Major
Nearly all those surveyed (93 percent) say that “a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems ismore important than [a candidate’s] undergraduate major.”
More than 9 in 10 of those surveyed say it is important that those they hire demonstrate ethical judgment and integrity; intercultural skills; and the capacity for continued new learning.
More than 75% of employers say they want more emphasis on 5 key areas including: critical thinking, complex problem-solving, written and oral communication, and applied knowledge in real-world settings.
Continued Importance of Liberal Education and the Liberal Arts
The majority of employers agree that having both field-specific knowledge and skills and a broad range of skills and knowledge is most important for recent college graduates to achieve long-term career success. Few think that having field-specific knowledge and skills alone is what is most needed for individuals’ career success.
80 percent of employers agree that, regardless of their major, all college students should acquire broad knowledge in the liberal arts and sciences.
A Blended Model of Liberal and Applied Learning
Across many areas tested, employers strongly endorse educational practices that involve students in active, effortful work—practices including collaborative problem-solving, internships, senior projects, and community engagements. Employers consistently rank outcomes and practices that involve application of skills over acquisition of discrete bodies of knowledge. Employers also strongly endorse practices that require students to demonstrate both acquisition of knowledge and its application.