Where:
 Virtual
When:
 December 8, 2021
Time:
 2-3 p.m. Eastern

Prior research by Strada has revealed that making career connections transparent for college graduates increases the value they feel in pursuing a postsecondary education. Yet, how do undergraduates plan for their careers while they are in school? With the challenges faced by recent college graduates during the pandemic, postsecondary institutions can learn a lot from how students pursue career preparation experiences and what they believe is most meaningful to their career development.

In a collaboration with research administrators of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and Strada, this webinar will present the first insights from NSSE’s new Career and Workforce Preparation module.The Career and Workforce Preparation module, administered in Spring 2021 to over 55,000 students from 91 U.S. institutions, addresses how the college experience influenced undergraduates’ career plans and confidence in their future workplace skills.

Join us and experts from NSSE and Johns Hopkins University to learn from over 29,000 seniors within the module who shared the types of career-building activities they engaged in as undergraduates and how they felt those experiences influenced their career plans, their confidence in workplace skills, and their clarity on next steps in their career planning. Findings highlight the importance of social capital-building activities, such as networking with alumni and professionals, in shaping students’ feelings of career clarity and confidence as well as the ability for work and internships to meaningfully influence future career plans. With special attention to differences in first-generation and continuing-generation student experiences, our findings also illuminate where intentional attention can be paid to ensure equity in career-building outcomes for current and future undergraduates.

In the news from Strada

June 28, 2021
Examining the Value of Nondegree Credentials

The number of organizations offering nondegree credentials is proliferating, and interest from learners in these credentials — certificates, certifications, and licenses — is growing. But even though these credentials are now in the spotlight, we have relatively sparse data on outcomes. To provide more understanding, through a Strada-Gallup survey we asked more than 14,000 adults across the nation about earnings, job satisfaction, and perceptions about the worth and benefits of nondegree credentials. This month’s Strada Public Viewpoint release compares learner outcomes across degree, nondegree, and combined pathways. By examining programs of different lengths and the experiences of different populations, we aim to provide insights that inform our understanding of the value and potential limitations of nondegree credentials. Join Strada researchers and expert panelists at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday, July 28, for a discussion about the findings and implications for the field. As part of the ongoing Strada Public Viewpoint research started in March 2020, Strada Education Network has talked to tens of thousands of people in the United States about their experiences with work and education during the pandemic. The research is intended to inform education and training providers, policymakers, and employers who are helping people complete valuable and purposeful education pathways.