4year college degrees don’t guarantee stable, fulfilling jobs. That’s why this team is working with employers to design a faster, more affordable way to equip worker’s for today’s jobs — and it could transform how we define “qualified”

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Higher education is at a crossroads, struggling to keep pace with the dynamic demands of the modern job market. Graduates often find themselves trapped in a cycle of underemployment, holding degrees that don't align with the skills employers are looking for. That’s why Education Design Lab is redefining the journey from school to the workplace through the concept of micropathways.

These innovative pathways prioritize skillspecific microcredentials, designed with employers to meet the precise needs of today's workplace. By breaking down traditional degrees into more focused units of learning, they offer a laserlike precision in skill development, which can be readily applied across a range of industries and positions. The initiative, spearheaded by Don Fraser, has quickly gained momentum, with more than 50 community college systems collaborating to implement these programs nationwide.

But this movement transcends mere skill acquisition. It's about aligning individual talents with fulfilling careers and uniting employers with specifically equipped workers, empowering people to make meaningful contributions in a rapidly changing workforce. Education Design Lab unites the collaborative effort of learners, educators, and employers in codesigning these pathways, fostering a future where education is not just about degrees, but about unlocking potential and opportunities for all.



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