Source: Forbes
Forbes – The best preparation for employment is work experience, but far too few college students get the chance to gain practical, hands-on experience through work-based learning, including internships, co-ops, apprenticeships, and course-based projects.
The gap is especially pronounced at community colleges, which enroll more than 40% of undergraduate students across the country. A national study commissioned by InsideHigherEd found that 58% of community college students had not participated in any form of work-based learning, compared to just 30% at four-year universities.
Work-based learning experiences allow students to stress-test their education and training, cultivate professional mentors and networks, and develop “soft skills” that help them ace interviews and succeed when hired. At their best, they are paid and help offset the cost of college attendance for full-time students while offering supplemental income for part-time students who may decide to pursue a shorter-term form of work-based learning, like a bootcamp or a micro-internship, while working.
