Video Viewpoints: The College President's Take on Preparing Millennials for Work

The third video in our “Video Viewpoints: Preparing Millennials for Work” series looks at the college president’s point of view on preparing college students for the workforce. In this video, David Angel, president of Clark University in Worcester, Mass., and Gloria Larson, president of Bentley University, discuss how combining a wide variety of courses, especially case studies, with internships can create a well-rounded entry-level candidate who is job ready.

According to Larson, “The real chance for students to figure out their passion is through their coursework.” Outside of the required set of core classes, students should take advantage of the opportunity to experiment with courses. By pairing these courses with internships over the first two to three years, she adds, students can begin to see how what they are learning in the classroom applies to the real world.  

Angel notes that, soon enough, “every college and university in America will begin blurring the lines between learning that takes place in the classroom and learning that takes place in the world.” One of the best ways we see this play out in schools is through employers entering the classroom to teach students based on challenges and case studies from within their companies.

In addition to internships, Larson encourages students to take courses that encourage them to find solutions for real company challenges. Students who are able to apply what they learn to real-world situations will find they are ready to hit the ground running when stepping into their first job.

Watch the Series

View all of the videos in the Video Viewpoints Series:

Preparing Millennials for Work: A Student's Perspective
A CEO's Take on Preparing Millennials for Work
The College President's Take on Preparing Millennials for Work
4 Things You Should Do to Prepare for Your First Job