Do graduates provide value? Due to new technologies and advanced science, the world is becoming more and more complex each day. Companies appear quick to fill the emerged niche in the market. At the same time millions of European students rush through a 3-year bachelor program at university to get a job as soon as possible, often without success. Versatility among them is becoming less. The subjects and grades are the same, not much info on the cv to distinct between them. It might be shortsighted to think the quickest way is the best. The labor market requires skills a 4-year bachelor program can provide.
Recruiters are looking for people with work experience in the respective industry. The two commonly used ways to get training are internships and side jobs. Internships should at best give students an inside of, and active participation in, the work process. In 4 years students will have time to make at least one extended internship or to have several short insights. A well-considered side job will be beneficial in more than one way for both sides in short and long term. To a certain extend the scholars will work in the branch and get experience. Employers can then find it on the CV which could spark interest and result in a good cooperation. It also helps the student to solve financial questions. Since there are less classes during the stretched program it is easier to have one.
Students with deep, widespread knowledge, not just necessarily in interrelated subjects, are of much worth for companies. To reach it, 4 years of academics provide time that can be used to gain a deeper understanding of the chosen ones, plus different courses of interest. In the globalized, connected world humanity is facing old and new problems all around the time. The solutions are often a mix of various steps. A strong foundation of the basic concepts plus the ability to find new connections are needed to solve them. Spending time to work on these skills is the only way to get to this point. Time is an asset. In addition to that language is needed to communicate these problems and solutions, that’s why a student is well of to learn them. Here too, time for practice and of course the practice itself is the key. Graduates with these features will have a high employability, which in return sets them up to become the future leaders.
Employers appreciate responsible, versatile persons with life experience. Companies on the constantly changing free market want consistency to overcome the hard rise of the economic wave while remaining flexible to ride it and, since a company is basically just a construction of people with different tasks, workers with the same feature are advantageous. Every person is learning how to deal with one selves and others and this awareness is very important for a functioning team. The older the wiser, but there are times where people require more knowledge and vice versa. A semester abroad comes to mind when considering personal growth. It shouldn’t be a time question to invest one or two out of the 8 semesters in the 4-year program, once decided. Besides that, there are many other extracurricular activities to pursue and learn from. Finding or pursuing them seems often less the problem for students then finding time. The extended program can come in handy in that case too.
Well educated students can assuredly find a fast way into the working world. However, this is dependent on their preparation and efforts to acquire the pre-determined skills. 4 years is an appropriate time for a bachelor’s degree because it leaves enough space to develop academically, practically and humanely to take the hurdle between studies and work. Students are able to provide value.