Some argue that colleges should help students get a job after graduation, while others think the main goal of higher learning should be to teach students new information. Both sides have reasonable claims, but I think universities should balance both sides equally.
There is an important side to workplace preparation because most students want to get a job. Upper management and employers look for certain skills in their new hires. New hires should be able to work well with others and have the knowledge to do the job. New hires also need to be able to do projects outside of their job. If schools offered projects, extra classes, and things like internships that would help prepare students for the workplace. For example, students of the subjects engineering and computer science with hands-on work and training are usually more likely to get a job after graduation than those with only the knowledge of the theory of the subject. This type of education geared towards employment can help students get a job and become financially stable sooner.
Those who want to focus on academics say that colleges should be places of higher thinking, not job-training programs. Knowledge of academics teaches people how to think outside of the box, how to research, and how to have a deeper understanding of things. These skills are important for making long term changes in society and innovations. Things like philosophy, math, and the sciences may not have direct outcomes in the workplace, but they promote thinking analytically and help students. Lastly, the academic world may change slowly, but things in the workplace are always changing and having a solid academic foundation will help students get jobs in new and emerging fields.