The Essence of Quality: Higher Education as an Investment

The “what” and the “where” of quality must converge in a synergistic relationship that is fully developed between education and employers. If employers and educators are to work to advance the current state of the American economy, or any economy, then higher education, the workplace, and most importantly students, must all see productive pathways to success.  Education thus becomes a reasonable investment for all.  This is the essence of quality.

 A clear example of the failure to establish this kind of relationship can be seen in the education system of the United States. Large numbers of students entering our higher education system require remedial studies.  Higher education criticizes teachers in our primary and secondary systems for inadequate preparation of students for postsecondary work.  This situation begs the question “Where are our primary and secondary teachers being prepared?”  Oh, yes, that would be in those very same institutions of higher education that are criticizing them.  The solution is simple. Higher education has the ability to align curricula from our primary and secondary systems with the expectations of higher education through the curricula in teacher preparation programs.  Higher education could then prepare students to become successful primary and secondary teachers who in turn could prepare their students for university-level work.

This is only one of many examples in which open communication and transparency between
education and employers could address workplace issues in straightforward, effective ways. Such endeavors would do much to enhance the value of education in America and to make education an investment in quality.

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