Firehouse has spent a significant amount of time working in higher education, having been lucky to count Western Governors University, Rice University Jones Graduate School of Business, Bellevue University and Texas Wesleyan among our clients.
For those not as close to this market, there’s a seismic shift happening that we all need to be aware of because it is not only changing higher education, it provides insight into the wants and needs of the people we will be working alongside and employing in the immediate future.
These are just some of the dynamics we see currently reshaping higher education that have broader implications about the workforce of tomorrow.
Gen Z students are pragmatic learners bent on forging their own path. According to a study conducted by ECMC Group, a nonprofit corporation focused on helping students succeed, today’s students are incredibly resolute in their desire to forge their own path when it comes to education. They value self-reliance and independence, particularly when it comes to self-directed learning. They’re likely to search a video on YouTube to learn a new skill or explain a new concept. And the education model that will serve them (and future generations) is fundamentally different.
Gen Z brings this same learning style to every endeavor. To engage them, give them resources to consume on their own time, let them self-pace, and share desired outcomes versus the steps or process for achieving those.
Gen Z is highly entrepreneurial and has less of a ‘dreamer’ mindset than Millennials. Gen Z has grown up in a world that hasn’t always made them feel financially secure, and they’ve taken that on board in their plans for their future careers. While the Millennial generation was encouraged to dream big, Gen Z is more realistic. For educators, that means proving the practical value of their education, again and again.
Practicality is a key theme for this generation. As employers and co-workers, we have to illustrate the practical value of the tasks with which we ask Gen Z to engage. In other words, banish busy work and make sure this generation knows how they are contributing value.
Gen Z learners understand the need for skills-based training and lifelong learning. This generation doesn’t see education as a four-year sentence to be completed. The view is more practical (there’s that word again). It is about acquiring skills with real and immediate value, and embracing the idea that education is never “done.” So, while educators need to find new ways to collaborate with students in planning educational pathways, they may be able to retain those students as lifelong learners.
For employers and co-workers, a passion for lifelong learning and an openness to acquiring new skills can be a tremendous asset. But, it requires adopting a less rigid view of education and embracing and funding continued learning.
Today, the landscape of higher education is swiftly evolving, demanding colleges to be proactive and adaptable in responding to the motivations of modern learners. The conventional college model faces increasing scrutiny, and staying abreast of the needs and expectations of today’s learner will be critical in navigating change most successfully.
And, if you’re paying attention, the trends we are seeing in the education space are a bellwether for what’s to come and a roadmap for how to maximize the considerable potential of Gen Z.
