Nationwide Survey of Employers
Based on interviews with over 600 employers, there is increased support among employers for an increased emphasis on providing all students with the LEAP 'essential learning outcomes'. "Employers reject any trend toward narrow technical training at the college level; they believe that, to succeed in the global economy, students need more liberal education, not less."
(Source: In 2013 the AAC&U commissioned an independent research group to conduct several studies of employers' views on student learning in college (PDF). See the AAC&U website for more details.)
Employer Priorities and Consensus on College Learning Outcomes
|
knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World |
Percentage |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | 80%* |
| Global issues & societies and cultures outside of the U.S. | 78%* |
| Science and Technology | 56% |
| Intellectual and Practical Skills | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Teamwork skills in diverse groups | 67% |
| Critical thinking and analytic reasoning | 82% |
| Written and oral communication | 80% |
| Information literacy | 72% |
| Innovation and creativity | 71% |
| Complex problem solving | 81% |
| Quantitative reasoning | 55% |
| Personal and Social Responsibility Skills | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Problem solving in diverse settings | 91%* |
| Ethical issues/public debates | 87%* |
| Civic knowledge, skills and judgement | 82%* |
| Ethical desicion making | 64% |
| Integrative Learning Skills | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Direct experiences with community problem solving | 86%* |
| Applied knowledge in real world setting |
78% |
*percentage of employers who "strongly agree" or "somewhat agree" that "regardless of a student's chosen field of study" every student should attain this area of knowledge or skill