Colleges and companies have had an uneven history together. At times, the relationship has been strong. Companies have seen colleges as providing a pipeline of talent for their endeavors. At other times, companies have viewed colleges as disconnected, out of touch, and expensive.
Josh Crawford has recently proposed in his popular book and blog, The Personal MBA, that academic MBA programs may be a waste of time and money. He challenges traditional thinking by making three points: 1) Programs are too expensive, 2) the material they teach is outdated, and 3) programs will not give you the skills you need. He writes, "MBA programs teach many worthless, outdated, even damaging concepts and practices." While perhaps a bit over-stated, you get his point.
What many people don't realize is that Josh had a remarkably successful college experience. He writes "As a student at the University of Cincinnati, I was fortunate enough to participate in the Carl H. Lindner Honors-PLUS program.... and as a result I had the remarkable opportunity to experience most of what business schools teach....Through the University of Cincinnati's cooperative education program, I landed a management position at a Fortune 50 company -- Procter & Gamble -- during my second year of college."
Connecting Students with Jobs Early
Josh Crawford is clearly critical of some aspects of academic experience. What he clearly commends is the opportunity to combine academic experience with real-world work experience. This is the best of both worlds. When we get college students out into the workplace early to put their studies into action, everybody wins. Students are able to connect what they are learning in the classroom with what is happening in the real work. Secondarily, students get to speak into the educational experience. Once of the greatest assets of a great classroom experience is when you have students who are experiencing the material in real life.
Connecting Students with Leaders Early
As compared to college students in the 60s and 70s, today's students like adults. They regularly seek mentors and coaches who can help them wrestle with the personal and professional issues they are facing. At Crown College, we continue to find new ways to connect our students with leaders on campus and in the community. This accelerates their learning and better prepares them for their future vocational pathways.
Real Life Recommendations
Whether you are a college student, college faculty or staff member or a corporate leader, here are some action steps you can take today.
- Take early steps to connect students with jobs: Internships, practicums, or informal experiences in the workplace provide natural pathways for students into jobs after graduation. It is a win for students by enriching their educational experience and it is a win for companies as they have greater success in recruiting and retaining top talent.
- Connect students with leaders: Students are more willing than you might think to learn from leaders in companies and the community. By providing formal and informal coaching and mentoring opportunities for students to learn from senior leaders we are building their capacity to lead at a higher level.
- Some segments of young adults need more help with this than others. First-generation college students, students of color, and women have traditionally had fewer opportunities to connect with corporate and community leaders. Fortunately, several schools and programs have effectively targeted these under-served populations. As you develop your strategy, don't overlook these opportunities.
Kaufman, Josh (2010). The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business. Penguin Group.