College is meant to prepare students for the workplace. Employers don't think they're ready | Opinion

In my early career at the U.S. Department of Energy, I oversaw the development of an advanced robot, dubbed Rosie, intended for decontamination and decommissioning in radioactive facilities. The concept promised to minimize human risk; the brightest researchers fueled this idea.

However, upon completion, it became evident that the project was executed in isolation without consulting the end users. The absence of customer buy-in rendered the technology virtually unused. This reality was a considerable waste of taxpayer dollars. My experience underscored a critical lesson in product and service development: the importance of customer engagement from the outset.

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Reflecting on my Energy Department experience in the context of higher education reveals a parallel dilemma. Colleges and universities often develop curricula in a vacuum, focusing more on traditional academic metrics than on actual employability needs. According to the 2018 Job Outlook Survey, which included responses from 4,213 graduating seniors and 201 employers, most students believed they were well-prepared for entering the workplace. In contrast, employers were not convinced of the students' readiness. For example, students rated themselves as proficient in professionalism (89.4%), while employers rated student proficiency lower (42.5%).

The stark contrast between student self-perception and employer expectations is not just a statistic but a clear indication of a severe problem. If not addressed, this misalignment will lead to a significant waste of time and money. What type of academic leaders are needed to better prepare students for the future workforce? Strategist Hart Brown, author of "Future Forecasting," asserts, "Leaders who demonstrate stability become credible and trusted figures within their organization and community." This current misalignment underscores the essence of disruption in the context of higher education and career readiness.

We need real-world experience in college classrooms

To address this misalignment in higher education, three key points must be emphasized:

Engage customers (employers) early, often: Like Rosie, developed without significant customer input, higher education curricula and programs are designed without sufficient engagement from the primary stakeholders: students and employers. Institutions should actively involve industry partners in curriculum design, ensuring that the skills and knowledge imparted are directly relevant to current and future job markets.

Provide real-world experience: Learning from the Rosie project, educational programs must be aligned with real-world applications. Students should have ample internships and real-world project work opportunities that enhance their employability by bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application.

Adapt to changing environments: Rosie's failure underlines the importance of adaptability. Similarly, academic institutions must be willing to evolve their offerings based on feedback from stakeholders, including students and employers, and the changing needs of the job market.

Are we prepared for "The Future of Work" with the current misalignment between educators, students and employers? Are we producing graduates ill-prepared for the real world? These questions should make us all pause at our current strategies for higher education.

The story of Rosie serves as a stark reminder of what happens when innovation is pursued in a vacuum. It underscores the need for higher education to foster a closer relationship with its stakeholders, ensuring that we produce graduates ready to tackle the challenges of the modern world. Let us learn from the past and move forward with a renewed focus on collaboration, relevance and adaptability. Let’s pray that it is not too late.

Daryl D. Green is a business strategist, speaker and noted author. Green is the new Business School dean at Langston University.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How can colleges prepare students for workforce? Give employers a say