How can you help schools plan for college and career readiness?

If K-12 schools want to prepare students for college and/or careers, they lust let go of canned curriculum, allow teachers to have agency, restructure PLCs to ensure teachers support each other rather than police each other, and focus on critical questioning, numeracy, and writing.

In order to assess the current situation of schools or colleges' readiness to support students in terms of thier future profession and career there should be a clear vision of what we expect from our graduates. There should be a graduate portrait, incorporating skills and knowledge that would make them qualified for the future labor market. It is vital to plan ahead since the technological progress we are all experiencing today has shown its impact on many professions which have lost their relevance.

@TrentonLoader An example is Trenton Loader’s thesis arguing for students (starting in primary) opportunity awareness and luck readiness. Trent recommends education policy interventions in Careers curriculum

Organisations and businesses need the drive and enthusiasm of young people. Young people have amazing ideas and insights into how a business can be successful. Tech savvy youngsters today can be the source of increased wealth in the future. This is why I believe that youngsters can work in hand with organisations and this can only happen through government schemes that will encourage both sides to be successful.

An interest inventory should be taken (Survey administered to the students). The evidenced gained from the interest inventory will allow you to plan effectively for college and career readiness.

Even before you create your desired outcomes, a leader or organization should take time to unpack the ideal vision for the final state. If we work to create our ideal outcomes before taking this step, our metrics we are measuring towards may not actually align to a goal that will make an impact.

Career Counseling is definitely not sending students to universities especially abroad but it is helping students find purppose in life. Hence, it should be a shared responsibility in the school with all stakeholders( management team, school counselors, subject teachers, parents who are partners and students, people from industry and alumni) contributing to have the shared vision to make it effective.

Student voice (in its true form) is essential. Young people can teach adults a great deal about potential future career pathways if we are prepared to listen and be flexible and creative in our response to their ideas.

Stakeholders and community partners could also include local enterprises. They can give insights on what kind of skills - rather than knowledge - are needed now and in the future in their field. Even though many students might end up in totally different workplaces, concrete experiences from the local employers might be eye-opening. Collaboration with local enterprises could also give students (and teachers) valuable experiences on how to put the skills and knowledge gained in the classroom in practice.

I think it’s particularly important to interview employers from many different sectors to ask them about school leavers applying for jobs. One employer I spoke with (digital marketing) said that many applicants are unable to use correct written English.

The action plan must include, in addition to career orientation, opportunities for real-life experiences, such as internships, apprenticeships, and simulation centers. This close-to-reality setting experience allows students to explore their skill set and make an informed decision about their future careers.

Helping schools get kids ready for college and careers is about more than just ticking boxes. As a leader, I roll up my sleeves and get into the nitty-gritty. It's about asking, 'What excites you?' and 'What skills do you want to master?' Then, we work backward to make a plan that's as unique as the kids themselves. It's not just about the destination; it's about crafting a journey that lights up their eyes and gives them the tools to navigate whatever comes their way. In 20+ years in education, I've seen the fixation on rankings and brand names. But it's the personalized preparation that truly equips students for the future. It's not one-size-fits-all.

Without the engagement of young people, any amount of SMART action planning is not going to hit the mark. A young person can have all the potential in the world but if they are unable to see relevance or to engage in actions for their own journey then success will be limited. The development of emotional intelligence, problem solving and executive functioning are key to meaningful next steps.

Schools are only preparing students for jobs that are existing. But in reality, 85% of jobs of the future are not yet in existence. In the current fast-changing world it is essential to prepare students to be life-long learners. And also to focus on the skills, strengths, and interests of the students instead of pushing them to careers based on their examination performances. As someone who has been in secondary education for over 16 years and also working in recruitment with the corporate world, it is evident that students are not being prepared for careers that best suit them but rather what suits their academic profile. But we often see these students being demotivated in their careers in the long run.

It is important to consider how the college can teach the so called 21st century skills, such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication, creativity and problem solving as a part of general curriculum. The societies are changing so quickly that focusing on the existing job market is not enough. In the future, there will be forms of work that we can′t even imagine yet. That is why the colleges should focus on teaching skills that help students to be ready to deal with changes and to adapt to them. Students should learn how to find and discern confiable information, for example, as the information becomes easily obsolete.

In order to develop a good plan, there is the need to have an assessment of areas of interest, potential skills and talents to be enhanced and strong emotional intelligence of the students to adapt to the new environment and career exposure. Teaching and learning of social skills is very important to develop the readiness to embrace the new environment, methodology,communication, fear syndrome, self awareness and active participation. Adequate knowledge of these itemized variables and analysis will facilitate the formulation and implementation of the desired policies by the stakeholders in education.