What’s the Next Evolution of Career Preparation? A Book Talk with Kathleen deLaski, author of “Who Needs College Anymore?”

With the growing popularity of skills-first hiring practices, and a perceived skepticism of the value of higher education – which in many ways is inflated by growing distrust of all institutions in the United States – the reality is that this spring many families are asking themselves: 

“Should our student go to college?” and “Would a college education prepare our student for today’s labor market? And should it?”

This book talk for “Who Needs College Anymore?” will feature Kathleen deLaski, founder of Education Design Lab, who will participate in a spirited debate about colleges’ ability to meet their assumed mandate to prepare students for the workplace.

The conversation will explore the wide array of “earn-and-learn” models available to high school-aged youth today, such as college-run boot camps and youth apprenticeship programs that offer a mix of the traditional American college experience along with work experience.

Opening remarks

• Mary Alice McCarthy, Senior Director, Center on Education & Labor at New America

Panelists

• Walter Simmons, President & CEO of Employ Prince George’s, and the Executive Director of the Prince George’s County Workforce Development Board
• Catherine McConnell, former Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education
• Kathleen deLaski, Founder of Education Design Lab, and Senior Advisor for the Harvard Project on Workforce
• Sophie Nguyen, Senior Policy Manager for Higher Education at New America

Response and Audience Q&A led by Jubei Brown-Weaver, Packaged App Developer Apprentice at Accenture