Correspondingly, many institutions have already begun to offer unbundled educational options. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have been steadily growing in popularity. While students can’t count these courses towards a degree, their popularity speaks to a need for similar educational opportunities that carry credits.
In fact, low-cost, credit-bearing courses emerged to address America’s growing skills gap. Many colleges and universities have begun to offer microcredentials—short, narrowly focused programs of study that can be added to an existing degree program or completed to earn a standalone certificate.
Is Unbundling a Trend or Higher Ed’s Imminent New Normal?
There are those who predict that higher education’s current decline is pandemic-based and enrollment numbers will surge again once we are past this public health crisis. For institutions that believe firmly in the importance of a liberal arts education, this is hopeful news. After all, the data still suggests that the cost of a college degree is worth the steep investment.
But unless institutions can greatly reduce the cost of the on-campus degree program experience, provide students with job-securing skills, and better support first-generation, minority, and working students, they may see enrollment rates continue to fall.
One of the biggest indicators that shows why unbundling the educational experience might be necessary to the future of higher education is the growing number of non-traditional students looking to enroll in a college degree program. Non-traditional students often possess jobs, families, and other commitments and are looking for more flexible education options.
It’s not just the growing demographic of non-traditional students who want more personalized, flexible education. The number of students seeking more cost-effective ways to obtain jobs skills and college degrees has been growing year by year. By offering a-la-carte, competency-based courses and programs alongside traditional degree programs, institutions can attract a wider range of students and potentially boost enrollment.
A Continued Demand for Personalization and Flexibility
It might be far-fetched to imagine the eradication of a four-year, on-campus education experience. But what the past 10 years have made clear is that not all students desire—nor can they afford—a traditional degree program.
Unbundling traditional programs into off-base courses, microcredentials, and other certificate programs, and allowing students to put those courses and credits toward a college degree can cater to learners who need more personalized, flexible education options. This, in turn, gives students the opportunity to fully recognize the value of their education, become lifelong learners, and succeed in their career endeavors.
Omer Riaz is the Vice President of Strategy & Innovation at Jenzabar.
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