shaping higher education on the basis of labor market demand: a slippery slope?

Department of Administrative and Policy StudiesShaping Higher

Education on the Basis of Labor Market Demand: A Slippery Slope?

John C. Weidman,University of Pittsburgh

Presentation at the 2011 Symposium of the Gulf Comparative Education Society, UAE

Department of Administrative and Policy Studies

Contact information

Shaping Higher Education on the Basis of Labor Market Demand

John C. Weidman, Professor of Higher Education

University of PittsburghSchool of Education http://www.education.pitt.edu Department of Administrative and Policy Studies5910 Wesley W. Posvar Hall230 S. Bouquet StreetPittsburgh, PA 15260 US

Phone: +1-412-648-1772Email: weidman@pitt.edu http://www.education.pitt.edu/people/JohnWeidman/

16 March 2011

Department of Administrative and Policy Studies

Key Issues

• External Demand for Highly Educated People: Labor Market Dynamics

• Student Demand for and Institutional Supply of Places in Various Academic Majors

• Institutional Capacity for Restructuring

Shaping Higher Education on the Basis of Labor Market Demand 16 March 2011

Department of Administrative and Policy Studies

Labor Market Dynamics• Structure of National Economy

– Oil Production

– Professional Services

– Public/private mix

• Supply of Highly Educated People– Domestic

– International16 March 2011Shaping Higher Education on the Basis of Labor Market Demand

Department of Administrative and Policy Studies

Labor Market Dynamics

• Projections for the Future– Changes in National Economies

– Changes in Demograph

• Higher Education and National Development

16 March 2011Shaping Higher Education on the Basis of Labor Market Demand

Department of Administrative and Policy Studies

Demand and Supply of Majors

• Mismatch Between National Needs and Student Demand

• Mismatch Between Institutional Provision and Student Demand

• Access and Gender Equity– Gains in Higher Ed Enrollment by Women

– Continuing Limitations on Majors (STEM)

16 March 2011Shaping Higher Education on the Basis of Labor Market Demand

Department of Administrative and Policy Studies

Institutional Restructuring Capacity• Curriculum Structure

– General vs. Specialized

– Fit with Labor Market

• Major Fields

• Content

• Distribution of Faculty

• Importance of Tradition

16 March 2011Shaping Higher Education on the Basis of Labor Market Demand