What Employers Tell Us about Their Needs, Faculty Work, and Student Skills

Since 2007, the Association of American Colleges & Universities has conducted a series of surveys and focus group studies with employers (and recent graduates) across the U.S. in a range of fields and interests. In the words of the AAC&U, the research has directed attention to “the most important learning experiences and outcomes [students] need to successfully navigate the global economy.” In particular, the studies have clarified the types of learning employers believe students should experience in higher education – and the proficiencies that graduates should achieve in order to meet expectations on the job. This presentation will introduce the surveys to the audience and review the core findings – much of which is good news for the discipline of history (and the knowledge and skills we seek to develop through the AHA Discipline Core).