Written by: Douglas Belkin
Published by: The Wall Street Journal
MBA News Digest Comment: None.
Extracted Content: How can you tell if a university graduate can think clearly, communicate precisely and solve problems effectively?
For years, confidence in higher education has been declining, along with total enrollments. Transcripts and diplomas don’t carry much weight for many employers, as grade inflation has reduced the worth of a cumulative grade point average. Employers can’t be sure that students have gained critical thinking skills over the course of a degree. At the same time, millions of jobs requiring a four-year degree can be done without that level of education, some corporate leaders say.
Ohio University economist and professor Richard K. Vedder has wrestled with this dilemma and believes the future of higher education will include a college exit examination that would shine a light onto what graduates know—and what they don’t.