As a higher education professional, you’ve likely heard the murmurs: Employers complaining that new graduates aren’t ready. Enrollment numbers leveling off despite growing demand for degrees. Students with honors degrees who can’t land interviews.
These aren’t random problems. They’re warning signs that higher education isn’t delivering what students—or the job market—actually need. Some universities lack forward-looking programs, curricula, and tools. Others lack financial, mental health, or cultural support.
Let’s look at nine critical issues in higher education that need attention right now—and how your institution can get ahead of them.
9 Current Issues in Higher Education
You already know that keeping current in higher ed isn’t enough anymore. Students needhigher education institutions that think ahead and stay ahead.
Here’s where many schools struggle:
#1. Programs Leave Students Without Real Skills
College was designed to give students a broad academic experience, and that includes a lot of theory. But students need to graduate with more than a diploma and a head full of ideas. They need transferrable skills they can immediately apply to their careers.
More college prospects are choosing vocational schools, certification programs, and other alternatives because they promise an immediate skills payoff. While these programs usually deliver on practical skills, many traditional degree programs don’t. The solution? Balance theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience.
Students also need programs in fields where jobs exist, particularly up-and-coming fields such as:
- AI and machine learning
- Cybersecurity
- Software development
- Health informatics
- Sustainability
- Healthcare
- UX/UI design
#2. Graduates Can’t Meet Employers’ Basic Needs
Here’s a sobering statistic: 80% of surveyed hiring managers said recent college graduates didn’t work out. The problem wasn’t a lack of intelligence or potential. It was the basics:
- Professionalism
- Time management skills
- Positive attitude
- Communication skills
- Adaptability
So, what’s the fix? Start by weaving these skills into every course—not just one freshman seminar. Make students present. Make them collaborate. Make them meet deadlines that matter. The workplace isn’t theoretical, and your teaching shouldn’t be either.
#3. Students Can’t See Their Future
Most young people attend college to launch a career. Yet many don’t see a direct connection between a degree and their desired career. When they can’t connect their coursework to actual jobs, many disengage.
Program descriptions, marketing, faculty guidance, and advisor support all need to paint a clearer picture of what comes next. Considerbringing in alumni to share career journeys and creating course-to-career roadmaps for each major. And make sure that job placement data is transparent and accessible.
#4. Learning Experiences Are Stuck in the Past
Reading chapter after chapter in a textbook is no longer cutting it. Today’s students grew up with instant, interactive technology. They expect engaging, even gamified lessons.
Try encouraging a mix of videos, podcasts, animations, and short readings to keep content interesting and inclusive for different learning styles. It’s an upfront investment of finances and time, but also a competitive necessity.
#5. The Cost Barrier
Let’s be honest: College is expensive. And for many students, the costs make a degree feel out of reach. Student loans are an option, but many would rather graduate without the debt.
Ways to reduce student costs vary by institution and state regulations, but may include:
- Scholarships
- Work-study options
- Reduced credit loads through CLEP
- Grants
- Community college transfer options
- Online programs
Get creative! You can also partner with employers for tuition assistance programs or offer micro-credentials that stack toward degrees. And be transparent about costs from day one.
#6. Fear of Artificial Intelligence
AI remains controversial, especially in academia. (And plagiarism is a real concern.) But here’s the thing: AI is already reshaping every industry—and students who graduate without understanding it are already behind.
Start by embracing AI for classroom efficiency. Beyond that, AI needs to be integrated throughout the curriculum. Why? Because it will likely be part of every field soon. Pretending otherwise doesn’t protect academic integrity—it undermines student readiness.
#7. Weak Social Media Presence
Some institutions still treat social media like it’s optional. It’s not.
Higher education institutions not only need a social media presence, they have to own their digital space. It’s where prospective students, current students, parents, and alumni go for news and information.
Want to cut through the noise? Build a distinctive, strong, consistent social media brand. Anything less is invisible.
#8. Homogenous Learning Experiences
Look around your campus. College student bodies are more diverse than ever. But often, faculty demographics and course content haven’t kept pace.
Students are still learning from predominantly Eurocentric perspectives, even when student populations aren’t. This stifles cultural awareness and fails to prepare students for a global workforce.
Real diversity shows up throughout the college experience. It mirrors the world students will enter after graduation.
#9. Not Enough Support Beyond the Classroom
College can be stressful. For many students, it’s the first true “adult” experience of their lives. So, it’s not just homework or job searches they need help with. They’re dealing with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.
Services need to be available, visible, and easily accessible. Leading institutions are going even further—embedding wellness into campus culture with 24/7 crisis hotlines, peer support programs, and faculty trained to recognize warning signs.
If you’re seeing these higher education challenges at your institution, you’re not alone. The crucial question is: Will you tackle them before your competition does?
Key Takeaways
Let’s review the main points we’ve discussed:
- Programs must equip students with real-world skills for careers directly related to their degrees—and beyond.
- Programs should prepare students for jobs in emerging and future fields.
- Courses must be engaging and forward-thinking, using interactive tools and gamification.
- Institutions must address students’ financial, cultural, and mental health needs proactively.
- Universities need to embrace the digital age through AI, social media, and other channels to reach, engage, and educate their target audience.
How Your Institution Can Deliver for Tomorrow’s Workforce
Trying to keep ahead in higher education is exhausting. Even if you’re already using many best practices, it’s normal to need help in a few areas. Apollidon Learning is here for you, backed by extensive online higher education consulting experience.
We don’t just tell you what your competition is doing today. We show you what they’re planning for tomorrow. We’ve got higher education success stories that speak for themselves, and everything we recommend is backed by data analytics that prove what works.
Want to know more?
Request a tailored consultation today.
Sources:
https://www.multiverse.io/en-GB/blog/jobs-for-the-future
https://research.com/degrees/best-college-majors-to-pursue
https://www.epi.org/blog/public-colleges-are-more-diverse-than-ever-but-anti-dei-policies-threaten-that-progress/
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/life-after-college/2024/01/19/survey-students-career-influences-and-desired
https://www.fullfabric.com/articles/challenges-in-higher-education-management