Are Lack Of Pluralism & Rigid Views Restricting Educational Diversity At Universities & Colleges?

The US education system has been regulated, funded, and provided by the government for more than a century. Academics were very steadfast in their approach to the educational systems and were not open to change.

However, there has been a rising need for diversified learning material and methods, hence a surge of innovative methods through various private schools and colleges occurred in the last 25 years. Although higher education institutions now recognize the need to adapt their thinking, most scholars still prefer to follow traditional courses, careers, and study methods.

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The Job Market Has Changed

This rigid type of outlook can be frustrating to the new generation of students. The advancement in technology and digitalization has rapidly evolved over the years. Therefore, the job market’s requirements have changed. New careers emerged like digital marketing, software development, self-driving vehicle mechanics, and many others. For these jobs, new course offerings and facilities are required.

Simultaneously, many careers have become redundant because there is simply no need for the practice, or it has been replaced with something completely different. For example, many rudimentary jobs have been replaced by either software programs or robots.

Factory workers are an example of this shift, where their jobs are being replaced by robots and machines. Whether this is for our benefit in the long run is another debate. However, there is a need to design, develop, manufacture, and maintain these advanced machines. This is where universities have to play a key role to adapt their study offerings.

The Australian Computer Society has revealed that 40-50 percent of today’s jobs are highly likely to be replaced by technology by 2035. About one in five workers’ roles could be entirely replaced by artificial intelligence or full automation within the next 15 years.

A Need For Diversity Of The Academic Institution

These statistics are scary, and therefore, academic institutions need to start looking into more diverse offerings if they want to encourage higher education. Academies like Webacademyst provide a diverse course offering suited for individuals who wish to study part-time or full-time.

Instead of enrolling for a four-year degree in marketing, one can sign up for a short course in digital marketing while still working full-time. Online academies offer a diverse and flexible study solution, which in today’s world is more suited.

Furthermore, e-learning has become a popular choice, especially during the pandemic. Many universities closed temporarily, leaving students’ progress stagnant. Therefore, the alternative online academy is an attractive option, not to mention affordable.

Enhance Existing Skills Without A Degree

Besides students starting their journey towards a rewarding career, individuals who already have a skill set also find it challenging to study at a college or university. Suppose we look at popular courses related to spiritual well-being, which reached high demands during the Covid-19 pandemic. There aren’t many universities that offer turn-key solutions to individuals who wish to pursue this type of career or enrich their lives.

Therefore, spirituality and mindfulness courses, which according to people we talked to at Webacademyst are bestsellers, are more accessible online to individuals who wish to enhance this part of their skill set.