Dive Brief:
- A Rider University event on Tuesday brought together business leaders and administrators to discuss working together for the benefit of students and the local economy.
- The event featured a panel discussion that called on businesses to provide employment opportunities to local students while they are completing their degrees and after graduation, NJ.com reports.
- It also stressed a line of communication across parties so higher education institutions can better prepare students for the jobs local employers are looking to fill.
Dive Insight:
The White House last year announced $2 billion to strengthen partnerships very much like the ones being discussed in New Jersey Tuesday. As the Obama administration focuses on reducing the negative effects of student loan debt, it has tried to encourage the creation of pipelines from degree programs to jobs. Partnerships between community colleges, four-year institutions or universities, and local employers ensure students graduate with the precise skills needed to land a job.
As political skepticism grows over liberal arts degrees and the purely intellectual goals of higher education, partnerships like this are getting significant attention from governments looking for ways to hold schools accountable for student outcomes.