An integrative approach that offers a promising pathway forward to meet the challenges of today's post-secondary education

Based solidly in research, Higher Education's Road to Relevance addresses post-secondary education's myriad changes and immense stresses that have occurred in the past two decades. In today's complicated world, higher education has become the subject of growing uncertainty. With the ever-growing cost of college and the burden of skyrocketing student debt, it is more common than ever to question the return on investment of a college education. Increasingly, prospective students, and many employers, view attending institutions of higher learning as inadequate preparation for entering the 21st century workforce. The authors make a compelling case for why change is needed in post-secondary education and provide a promising path forward for new networks and ecosystems of learning and workforce development.

Rather than taking a university-centric approach, Drs. Ambrose and Wankel see the need for leaders to create and nurture networks and ecosystems that include employers, K-12 educators, post-secondary educators, and policymakers. This approach embraces multiple pathways for creating and credentialing self-directed learners who can meet the needs of a rapidly changing employment, social, and political landscape.

The book outlines an integrative approach and provides a roadmap for change with the aim of transforming our institutions of higher learning to better serve our students and communities.