The Changing Face of Employment

Matrix: The Magazine for Leaders in Education, June, 2000

Reprinted with permission from the Daily Iowan the student newspaper of the University of Iowa

The New Economy has drastically altered the landscape of the professional world While many institutions remain static in this time of change, the UI has kept pace with the advances of the Information Age, to the benefit of its students.

By introducing technology to all facets of its curriculum and academic units, students are forced to confront the challenges that await them, regardless of their chosen course of study.

The Career Development Center's "Iowa Advantage" program and the College of Business' "Bizfolio" program are giving students the opportunity to reach out to prospective employers through hypertext resumes.

By stepping beyond the traditional, two-dimensional paper resumes and harnessing the power of the Internet, UI students are in a position to differentiate themselves from their competitors in the job market.

The College of Business has established strong relationships with employers throughout the Midwest, giving graduates a head start on job opportunities.

By nature of its character as a research university, the UI gives students opportunities to move beyond the standard curriculum and explore cutting-edge theories and experimentation techniques.

Credit for increasing student involvement in these research programs is due to UI administrators who make it possible and to professors who enthusiastically promote student research and involvement in their fields.

Besides these specific programs, the UI has done much to give students exposure to the technology and experience required for success in the 21 st century.

Computer-literacy courses are prevalent in all majors and are required in many minors. The UI's dedication to preparing students for the future is not spotless, however. Its curriculum is sorely lacking in terms of in-depth Internet-related instruction.

These courses are invaluable in the fields of marketing, communications, journalism, and politics, but the latter three lack quality Internet courses.

The marketing program offers a Web Commerce course, but that in and of itself is hardly sufficient. If the UI wants its students to make the most of technology and connections provided, it must update the curriculum to reflect the changes of the Information Age.