Many people from childhood believe that in order to succeed in life and career, it is necessary to have a college degree. However, the situation in the world is changing, and the principles that were relevant several decades ago are not suitable for a modern person. The relevancy of the college degree depends on the profession in which the person plans to become a professional (Vaida 31). The general tendency in technological development undermines the necessity of a college degree because organizations primarily require skills rather than theoretical knowledge. Therefore, it is essential to trace the changed perceptions of employers of potential workers in non-critical industries, the quality of education, the inconsistency between future wages and educational payments, and their influence on the relevance of the graduate degree.
One of the significant reasons why the relevance of the college degree is low is the changed employers’ perception of potential employees. Some entrepreneurs put work experience above a diploma and education. Today, it is better to get a job in a particular specialty, albeit initially for a small fee, than to spend time gaining a degree. Colleges provide primarily theoretical knowledge leaving aside the development of practical skills, which is unfavorable for some professional spheres. For example, sales, the entire field of marketing, copywriting and social networks, IT specialties, creative specialties, many other areas do not require higher education (Vaida 33). A person can be self-taught and take courses or pass internships. However, other areas, such as medicine, engineering, and others, require profound theoretical knowledge that can be gained through education.
The quality and relevancy of education is the second reason why the college degree becomes less critical. Even in-state colleges, the educational program can, in fact, lag behind the constantly changing realities by 5-10 years (Charnas and Cooke). This means that after graduation, the newly minted specialist will not have the skills necessary for work. There are also specific difficulties in connection with the global pandemic. Many universities have switched to remote work, and the quality of education has suffered. As a result, students will have to spend additional time gaining knowledge and practical skills to become the required specialists. Educational programs cannot change accordingly to the employment market tendencies. Thus, it becomes more relevant to take the required course saving a significant amount of time.
The situation in the labor market demonstrates to applicants that they will not receive the proper material reward for their long and challenging training as a doctor. Even at the peak of the pandemic, when the whole world called medical workers modern heroes and needed them more than ever, state employees publicly announced low salaries. In this regard, incorrect distribution of forces is threatened. Spheres in which specialists are responsible for the safety, life, and health of people will lose students. More accessible areas of study with the prospect of obtaining a highly paid profession will create a surplus of graduates who will fail to find a job due to competition. Such a situation occurs as a result of the extremely high costs of gaining a college degree (Aldraiweesh, et al. 120). Therefore, the discrepancy between the costs and outcomes of education is the last reason why a college degree is less relevant today.
The importance of the college degree has significantly decreased, but professional fields remain for which it is essential. The general relevancy of the college degree decreased significantly due to the occurrence of varied professions which can be gained through self-learning or courses. Since most universities have adopted distance learning, they have lost their competitive advantage compared to online courses. In addition, many employers value experience more than theoretical knowledge, especially in the field of copywriting and IT. However, a college education remains mandatory for work in many areas. Without it, it is still impossible to build a career in medicine, pedagogy, law, technical industries, and government bodies. It should be noted that education also develops people’s worldview and allows them to better understand state or world issues. However, this skill can be obtained not only in college, but also by completing an online course.
Works Cited
Aldraiweesh, Ahmed, et al. “Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Data on higher education.” Data in Brief, vol. 22, 2019, pp. 118-125.
Charnas, Ian and Cooke, Malcom. “The Value of Data, Metrics, and Impact for Higher Education Makerspaces.” IJAMM, vol. 1, no. 1, 2021.
Vaida, Sebastian. “A Brief Analysis of the Pros and Cons of Online Adaptive Learning and Education.” STUDIA UBB Psychology, vol. 1, 2020, pp. 31-39.