What are the implications of defining education as primarily vocational training rather than as something broader, i.e., preparation for global citizenship? The purpose of higher education is to equip students for higher success in workplace and communities they serve. Today, there are greater expectations from the higher education regarding the educational preparation and workforce needs for the future economic development. With declining availability of resources, there is a clear need for new models to in education system to ensure that higher education continues to meet society’s needs. There have been significant changes seen in the last few decades in the realm of education and learning, thanks to the advent of the internet. The long-established business models have undergone fragmentation and dissolution because of the rapid expansion of innovative technologies. When defining education as primarily vocational training rather than as something broader as global preparation, it is seen that the processes that contribute to vocational identity are not clearly understood. Vocational training requires different learning circumstances and effort that enable a free career choice with maximal functional integration. Vocation is like an individual journey and directs a person’s intentions and it is like a person-dependent process. There are few states that use the word vocational for their programs while others are using variations like professional-technical education. The term career education emphasizes on employability and skills while vocational education is meant for skills for specific occupations. Vocational programs get pushed aside by higher academic assessments as they are viewed as too narrow for success on a global level.
How have definitions of education changed over the course of the country’s history? Higher education in the US is a mature industry and like any other organizations, the industry needs to maintain its quality, efficiency and relevance under different environment and changing conditions. As higher education proliferates in the 21st century, it becomes an important contributor to the economic and security needs of the nation. Both states and the federal government fund research and financial aid at colleges and universities. Numerous commissions and review panels have recommended certain changes over the years to improve the higher education sector. The 21st century asks for changes to higher education in America so that it serves the society and meets the future workforce need. There are certain key drivers that leave a direct impact on the education. First is the technology that has redefined the physical facilities and promoted eLearning. Libraries have become digital and centralized. The next driver that affects US education are the costs. The nation's changing demographics and economic challenges have made the Universities far too expensive and thus, making education unaffordable for the students. Another aspect is a growing public perception that getting the higher education is not a valuable experience as the employment rates, and salaries are not justify attending a university (Manning 2014). The economic investment in higher education is so vast that it is difficult to ignore the evaluations of the investment made. It is critical for students to decide when and where to pursue higher education. The students do have a widening set of options of higher education options. However, the increasing costs of education and mounting debts are frustrating. When it comes to getting employment, the regional universities may lower support for academic programs that do not meet the employment needs. Academic and research that fail to compete significantly with research universities will be carved out (Dew 11). Why have they changed? The nation feels that it is time to evaluate the national investment in higher education and make sure that the higher education system meets the current and future needs of creating an educated and competitive workforce. The future workforce produced by the higher education system should be able to participate in the changing economy and meet the employment needs in the future. Participation in higher education is assessed by the number of enrollees in college. Statistics show that participation in higher education has increased. However, it must be noted that the costs of attending college in the United States have grown at a much faster rate. This has raised concerns among the moderate-income families who may not have the funds to send their child for higher education. On the other hand, public investment in higher education continues to grow. State and local governments have raised their funding and spending on research at universities have increased by 133% (Heller 3). The Secretary of Education’s Commission on the Future of Higher Education also referred to as the Spellings Commission, examines how to make the most out of the national investment in higher education. It is evident that US higher education needs to improve in dramatic ways as the nation progresses in the 21st century. The key findings suggest affordable access to higher education, along with a focus on quality, accountability, and innovation. Access to higher education can be made easier by improving academic preparation of students and expanding college access by increasing student aid. The financial aid system should be less complex and more of need-based. Colleges and universities should control costs and improve their productivity. Continuous innovation and quality improvement are essential for higher education institutions, and they should offer opportunities for lifelong learning (Heller 9). A culture of accountability and transparency is essential in higher education corroding to the report by Spellings Commission. The Internet is increasingly challenging the roles of educators as information becomes amiable everywhere. However, it is of paramount importance to prepare students for the future world. Although universities have always been considered as the gold standard for credentialing of higher educational training, the emerging proliferation of certification programs from other sources may erode the educational values as stated by The Horizons Report( 2012, p. 4). Higher education could become one of the most powerful and valuable export of America if bright changes are made at the right time. The quality education could make significant contributions in the coming decades. The government should focus on encouraging appropriate reforms to college and shake up the higher education system in the United States. The higher education in the US is at crossroads, and it is predicted that during the next 25 years many institutions will be forced to close. The colleges and universities will find it difficult to meet the traditional models to sustain because of the changing climate, new technology, and costly tuition. American higher education continues to change regarding the economic, technological, and student-driven issues.
Works Cited
Dew, John R. “The Future of American Higher Education.” 2012 World Future Society 1.1 (2012): 7-12. Print.
Heller, Donald E. "The Context of Higher Education Reform in the United States." Higher Education Management and Policy 21.2. (2009): 1-18. Web
“Horizon Report.” Higher Education Edition 1.1 (2012): 1-36. Print.
Manning, Kevin Dr “The Perfect Storm: Factors Driving the Future of American Higher Education”. Huffington post. 2014. Web. 6 Mar. 2016.
