A shift toward competencies that demonstrates skills is expanding on what college internships aim to accomplish.

Red Alert Politics reports.

New model for college? Instead of credits, students earn skills

According to one vision of the future of higher education, the allure of prestige and signaling could falter in favor of proven skills.

Jeffrey J. Selingo, a former editor of The Chronicle of Higher Education, predicts that skills and an opening of college to competencies over credits will reform higher education in The Washington Post.

“Today’s economy demands higher-level skills that are best learned through a mash-up of hands-on activities and different classes in various academic disciplines. That’s the experience employers want in today’s job candidates, but aren’t always sure they are getting with a one-dimensional bachelor’s degree,” Selingo said.

That’s partially a nod to the emphasis colleges place on their students taking an internship as a prerequisite for graduation. Experience in the field that a student wants to pursue develops their skills, allows them to network, and gives an idea of what it’s like to work in a chosen field. It goes beyond academic knowledge and the skill set required to excel on exams and essays into the demands of employment and the market.