Building the workforce of tomorrow, today: Bridging education and industry through experiential learning.

The World Economic Forum has issued a stark warning: within five years, a staggering 44% of the skills we currently rely on will be disrupted. This is not a distant problem, but a pressing issue that demands our immediate attention. It's a wake-up call for higher education to embrace innovation and push boundaries, presenting an unprecedented opportunity.

The Business-Higher Education Forum’s (BHEF) report, Forging Partnerships to Align Education and Industry for the Workforce of Tomorrow, takes this challenge head-on, reminding us that the most valuable skills in today’s job market are the same ones we have long taught in general education classrooms: critical thinking (46%), teamwork (36%), communication (33%), and creativity (29%). These are not just skills for a job; they are skills for life, innovation, and solving humanity's biggest challenges. Yet, here’s the kicker: we’re not failing to teach these skills. The issue is that too many learners don’t know how to apply what they’ve learned in real-world contexts. And that is where experiential learning comes into the picture.

College is not just about preparing learners for jobs; it’s about empowering them to build better communities, drive societal progress, and secure their livelihood. Its transformative power: education is not a distant dream, but a tangible reality. Creating 'world-ready' learners—students who can envision the possibilities of tomorrow and start building that future today—is not just important; it’s imperative.

The BHEF report also reveals an exciting insight: 89% of business leaders want to partner with higher education. That’s almost nine out of ten executives saying, “We’re ready. Let’s do this.” But they don’t know how. They struggle with the resources, the logistics, and the sustainability of these partnerships. This is where experiential learning intermediaries come into play, turning abstract ideas into tangible action by embedding real-world, employer-connected projects with the education experience.

Imagine a learner stepping into their first year of college, unsure of their path but excited to explore. Now, imagine that same learner completing a project for a local business or a global company early in their postsecondary journey—solving real challenges, gaining feedback from employers, and building social capital along the way. Experiential learning doesn’t just teach learners how to apply knowledge; it builds confidence, networks, and a clear understanding of how to navigate the world. And as the BHEF report notes, we can achieve this through industry-informed programs, stackable credentials, and lifelong learning opportunities that meet learners where they are.

The future of work doesn’t have to be daunting. By forging innovative partnerships between education and industry, we can align the skills students learn with the demands of an evolving workforce. Folks are already proving this can be done—bridging the gap between education and employment and ensuring that learners aren’t just workforce-ready but world-ready.

The world of tomorrow is rapidly approaching. We have the power to ensure our learners are not just equipped to meet it but to shape it. This is not a distant aspiration, but a tangible reality that we can collectively work towards.

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By Dr. Mara Woody, Director, Strategic Partnerships, Riipen

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