Exploring the Implications of “No College Degree Required” at SXSW EDU 2024

August 11, 2023

The idea that a college diploma is the key to unlocking a long-term, stable career is no longer a reality for many in the United States, especially those who aren’t graduating from elite universities. Unfortunately, there’s a growing disconnect between education and employability in the United States and that disconnect is threatening the very future of higher education.

It’s time for a seismic shift in education that puts the focus on skills, not how many hours you’ve spent in a classroom. That’s why ETS and The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching are headed to SXSW EDU in March 2024 with a PanelPicker proposal where we will discuss the impact of shifting our current education model from requiring a set number of hours in the classroom to competency-based learning and assessment.

The current measure of aptitude in education — the credit hour — is more than 100 years old. It simply does not meet the workforce needs of today. Following 12 years in the classroom in K–12 and another 2–4 years in college, many young people won’t step into an office and learn about workplace culture, interpersonal communication or even gain industry experience until they’re 22 years old. Employers are growing tired of new graduates with high GPAs, but no communication or interpersonal skills.

What would happen if we completely ditched the credit hour? What if more employers removed the college degree requirement from job postings? How would our country change if stepping up the socioeconomic ladder didn’t require four years of seat time and tuition?

This shift would radically transform not only what academic success looks like, but also better prepare students to meet workforce needs after graduation. It would fundamentally alter how recruiters assess college graduates entering the workforce:

• Job applicants would have empirical data to demonstrate skills rather than just curriculum.
• There could be less focus on where a student earned their diploma and more emphasis on the experience gained through their college years, making education more accessible and inclusive.
• Internships and entry-level positions could be awarded to students sooner, as they gain necessary skills, rather than only traditional coursework.

This is a fundamental paradigm shift from time-based to skill-based units of learning. We look forward to discussing the future of learning with you at SXSW EDU 2024.