This Week's Herman Trend Alert Purpose Emerging as Important Driver of Engagement

The Herman Trend Alert December 28, 1999 Whither Education? Part 2: Undergraduate Colleges and Universities 3 days until January 1, 2000 369 days until January 1, 2001 Undergraduate education is a vital part of our system for preparing young people for careers and life. How well is the process working? For some, it's wonderful. For others, there are major deficiencies that will stimulate significant change. In broad generalities, there are two approaches to undergraduate education today. One is to acquire a liberal arts education, gaining an appreciation of history, philosophy, art and culture, communications skills, and an enhanced ability to think creatively to solve problems and develop new ideas. The other approach is to concentrate on developing technical expertise in a particular field of study such as engineering, accounting, computer science, or business. The years a student invests on campus should prepare the graduate for the challenges of the ensuing career. In the past, this flow has been natural and appropriate: graduates entered their field and climbed the ladder of success using the knowledge and skills gained in college. More capacity was acquired on the job, contributing to a rewarding career in that chosen endeavor. The present-and particularly the future-suggest a much different career path. Today's graduates will change jobs many more times than their predecessors, and will change career paths a number of times, as well. Many of today's students will hold jobs in their careers that don't even exist today. The employment environment is considerably more dynamic and demanding. Undergraduate curricula must change to be more responsive to the needs of the students of today and tomorrow. Our forecast is that we'll see more emphasis on liberal arts, providing students with a broader foundation from which to manage their ever-changing careers. Students will want to be challenged, stimulated, and more deeply educated at a faster rate. Professors will mix their own capacity and experience with learning technologies like the internet for a more comprehensive experience, connecting theoretical with practical. Students will demand quality in their education, desiring to learn from teachers with a powerful combination of academic preparation and real world experience. We expect to see more visiting executives, stimulating guest lecturers, and a variety of outside resources applied in the years ahead. Happy New Year, New Decade, and New Millennium! © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." WHO SENDS OUT YOUR NEWSLETTERS? We are convinced there is no better choice than ours! We have happily used DataBack Systems to deliver The Herman Trend Alert for over 10 years and. Visit their website (http://www.databack.com) or call Byron directly at 503.941.0427. You'll be glad you did. IS YOUR EMPLOYER AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE®? Our effective, onsite seminars, workshops, and consulting can help you get there. We offer 1-, 2-, 3-hour, and full-day programs to help you communicate what it takes to become an Employer of Choice® and inspire your folks to get it done. In the future, being an Employer of Choice® will not be optional. Call Carol at 336-210-3547 to arrange a no-obligation conference call. Or order the electronic version of the Employer of Choice book on your desktop for only $17.80 @ http://hermangroup.com/store/books_all.html#2. STRUGGLING TO FIND THE PEOPLE YOU NEED? VETJOBS CAN HELP! Recently, hundreds of thousands of jobs remain unfilled due to a lack of capable people. If you are looking for qualified candidates, you need to hire a veteran using VFW-sponsored VetJobs, the largest military employment site on the Internet. Thousands of returning veterans are looking for good jobs now. Mention this ad in The Herman Trend Alert and receive a 10% discount on job postings. Call Ted Daywalt at 877-838-5627 or inquire at info@VetJobs.com. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. The Herman Trend Alert is received by over 30,000 subscribers in 78 countries, in addition to other websites and printed magazines. Do you enjoy receiving this weekly e-mail update? Contact us about our co-branded Trend Alert service. Click here to sign up for the Herman Trend Alert. Subscribe or Unsubscribe to weekly Herman Trend Alert View this week's Herman Trend Alert Archived Weekly Herman Trend Alerts

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