A good friend of mine who is a priest once said, “You don’t have a spiritual experience every time you go to church. But if you go to church every Sunday, your chances increase.”
Religious beliefs aside, I like to apply the same principle when considering the value of a college education in the modern workforce.
Just as regular church attendance may increase the likelihood of a spiritual experience, consistently engaging with the diverse people, ideas and challenges in a college setting increases the likelihood of developing critical human skills essential for navigating the workplace.
The unmeasurable value of a college education
During the many years I spent in the corporate learning and development field, I embraced the concept of mapping competencies to roles and skills to competencies. I loved the idea that with enough thought, you could determine exactly what competencies an organization needed to succeed.
My approach has evolved since then. Today, it’s clear that not everything can be neatly mapped or measured. In a rapidly evolving world that requires us to “adapt or die,” human skills like critical thinking, ethical judgment and empathy—which may not show up in a job description—are just as essential as hard skills. College helps people hone those human skills.
For instance, you never know when an employee might face a situation requiring that they make an ethical decision. If they took a philosophy class in college that challenged them to think critically about right and wrong, they’d be better equipped to act ethically when it matters most.
Similarly, a manager who has experienced a foundational course like Psychology 101 may not be qualified to diagnose or treat trauma, but they might be better able to recognize when an employee is struggling. This awareness fosters compassion and allows them to guide the individual toward the support they need. These human skills are not always explicitly taught but often surface when students engage deeply with a variety of disciplines.
Beyond individual subjects, college education as a whole encourages students to synthesize broader learnings and experiences, enabling graduates to apply knowledge from different areas to new and complex situations. This cross-disciplinary thinking is increasingly valuable in a world where the challenges we face rarely fit into one category.
I often think about Shelly Palmer’s concept that today is the slowest rate of change we’ll ever experience. The pace of change is only accelerating, which means we must all learn to navigate a world full of unknowns. Popular science author and professor Adam Grant suggests that in such a rapidly changing world, we must constantly “rethink and unlearn,” positioning ourselves “for excellence at work and wisdom in life.”
College lays the foundation for these adaptive skills by teaching not only specific subject matter but also how to think critically and how to learn. Through exposure to diverse ideas and the process of solving complex problems, students develop curiosity and adaptability. These are the skills that allow them to continue growing, learning and thriving long after graduation.
Discerning talent beyond the resume
Though it’s clear that college is a special place where people can develop these important human skills, the question remains: Is college worth the price of admission?
With tuition prices rising and more people doubting the value of a traditional college degree, schools are under increasing pressure to clearly communicate the purpose of higher education.
The challenge is that there isn’t just one simple value proposition. Schools play a vital role in shaping many critical aspects of a person’s life:
- Preparing people for the workforce through skill development and competency alignment.
- Helping people structure their ability to think and problem-solve rigorously.
- Exposing people to worlds they’ve never experienced—whether it’s bringing together a diverse group of people or discovering new knowledge.
- Providing a safe space for people to have a fundamental coming-of-age experience.
- Encouraging people to work hard and persevere through difficult challenges.
- Connecting people through a network of fast, deep friendships that can, in some cases, last a lifetime.
Not all of these outcomes are orchestrated or even achieved intentionally. But if we show up to church every week, that spiritual experience is more likely to occur. If learners are immersed in the college experience, they are more likely to achieve these outcomes.
The key takeaway for corporations?
Be intentional about how you assess candidates and map out what’s needed across your organization—not only in terms of skills, competencies, roles and jobs but also the human skills that drive success. Critical thinking, empathy, ethical judgment and adaptability are often difficult to measure, but their value in building an adaptable, innovative and resilient workforce is undeniable.
Colleges and universities play a significant role in cultivating these human skills, whether through structured programs or as a byproduct of the broader college experience. Beyond initial education, ongoing learning through partnerships with higher education institutions can further enhance these essential qualities, ensuring your workforce is continuously developing and prepared to meet evolving challenges.
Recognizing and investing in these intangible qualities can help you build a workforce that is not only equipped for today but also ready to thrive in the future.
