As AI changes the first job, working while in college must evolve - Jane Swift, University Business

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the workforce, few roles face greater risk than the entry-level jobs that young professionals have long relied on as a springboard for launching their careers. A recent Stanford University study found that employment for workers ages 22 to 25 in the most AI-exposed fields has declined by 13% in just three years. With students increasingly unable to gain the competencies and connections traditionally developed through entry-level jobs, it’s more critical than ever for them to build meaningful career skills while still in college.

https://universitybusiness.com/as-ai-changes-the-first-job-working-while-in-college-must-evolve/

Berkeley College Partners with NY Fashion Incubator for Student Internships - NJBIA

Berkeley College students in the Fashion Merchandising and Management program will benefit from experiential learning opportunities under a new collaboration with The Brooklyn Fashion Incubator, Inc. (BFI), a nonprofit that mentors emerging fashion entrepreneurs. The partnership was announced at a Global Fashion Collaborative focused on global business, sustainability, and technology in New York City last month. Through this collaboration, Berkeley College students will shadow BFI executives and potentially obtain internships with BFI, which works to help fashion entrepreneurs with professional growth and business development. 

https://njbia.org/berkeley-college-partners-with-ny-fashion-incubator-for-student-internships/

STUDENT VOICE: College students are tired of being told that we ‘should be grateful’ for our internships. We also want to get paid - Savanah Celeste Scott, Hechinger Report

Imagine clocking out of an eight-hour shift and your compensation is a pat on the back and experience for your resume.  This scenario is a disturbing reality for around one million college students, and it needs to stop. Students work countless hours on top of their academic pursuits only to be told they should be “grateful for the opportunity.”  The government must pass legislation mandating that all internships include monetary compensation; employers must stop exploiting students and recent graduates while they build necessary work experience.  

https://hechingerreport.org/student-voice-college-students-are-tired-of-being-told-that-we-should-be-grateful-for-our-internships-we-also-want-to-get-paid/

A leader’s guide to the future of learning at work - McKinsey

The race to embrace AI in the corporate world means that people at all levels of an organization urgently need to build new tech skills and knowledge. In turn, many companies are accelerating their learning and development programs to help executives and employees keep up with the pace of change. This dynamic landscape presents an opportunity for chief learning officers (CLOs) to reimagine the future of learning in the workplace. This week, we look at how CLOs can help organizations make learning a more fundamental part of the work experience and create cultures of continuous development.

https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/leading-off

College grads face one of the toughest job markets in a decade — ‘Right now is a really difficult time to find a job,’ expert says - Jessica Dickler, CNBC

Even as the U.S. economy adds jobs, there are fewer entry-level positions for college graduates just entering the labor market. “For the first time in modern history, a bachelor’s degree is no longer a reliable path to professional employment,” Gad Levanon, chief economist at the Burning Glass Institute, told CNBC. Even as the U.S. economy adds jobs, there are fewer employment prospects for college graduates just starting out, as those armed with a newly minted diploma are facing one of the toughest job markets in a decade, studies show.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/college-graduates-are-struggling-to-find-jobs-ai-is-partly-to-blame.html

How to find summer internships: Tips for college students - U Cincinnati

For college students, summer is prime time to level up your career with a co-op or internship. At UC, co-ops are paid career experience integrated into curriculum, while internships may be paid or unpaid and are often less integrated into curriculum. The search can feel competitive, like everyone’s showing off the flashiest resume, but with a little strategy, you can find a position that gives real-world experience, builds your network and points you toward your future career. Let’s dive into exactly how to find a summer internship that excites you.

https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2025/11/how-to-find-a-summer-internship.html

Florida expert urges shift in how we talk about end-of-life care - Trimmel Gomes, Florida News Connection

Nurse practitioner and longtime palliative care provider Lolita Melhado is calling for a shift in the way patients, families, and clinicians approach advance care planning, urging conversations that focus on personal values rather than rigid checklists. She is helping introduce an affordable, accredited online certificate program created by Compassion & Choices and the Goals of Care Coalition of New Jersey to train professionals nationwide. With Florida’s large aging population, Melhado emphasizes that early, open discussions are essential to ensuring patient wishes guide medical decisions during serious illness or crisis.

https://theapopkavoice.com/stories/new-certificate-program-aims-to-transform-end-of-life-talks-in-florida,149102

New UK course builds AI skills across every major - Allie Barnes, University of Kentucky News

University of Kentucky students are invited to learn how to thrive in an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven world through a new online course.  UK is offering a 100-level, one-credit-hour course — Transdisciplinary Educational Approaches to Advance Kentucky (TEK 100): Collaborative Intelligence — Understanding and Using Modern AI.  This rolling, asynchronous course will be offered twice during the Spring 2026 semester, to create multiple opportunities for students to fit this in their schedule. This course will run from Jan. 12 through March 2, and from March 9 through May 8.  

https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/new-uk-course-builds-ai-skills-across-every-major

‘How do we educate people for life’: How to connect Canada’s education system to the needs of a fast-changing economy - The Hub, Canada

Based on a roundtable discussion featuring perspectives from major employers, post-secondary institutions, and the global learning company Pearson, a clear consensus emerges: Canada faces a critical challenge in bridging the gap between its education system and the rapidly evolving demands of the modern economy. The central issue is not necessarily the curriculum itself, but the lack of “connective tissue” and agility needed to keep pace with technological change, industrial policy, and AI-driven transformation.

https://thehub.ca/podcast/audio/how-do-we-educate-people-for-life-how-to-connect-canadas-education-system-to-the-needs-of-a-fast-changing-economy/

How new immersive tech is shaping workforce skills - Alcino Donadel, University Business

Career simulation training is gaining a new layer of realism powered by advances in artificial intelligence and virtual reality, which provide students with a more responsive environment to test their technical and soft skills. Since flight simulators first became a staple in aviation training decades ago, simulation technology has expanded into other highly technical fields, such as cybersecurity, law enforcement and healthcare. Simulations expose students to high-stakes situations that require sophisticated care but that occur very rarely. In healthcare, these situations are called “HALO” (high-acuity, low-occurrence) events. New technology provides a low-stakes environment where students practice technical skills, communication and problem-solving

https://universitybusiness.com/how-new-immersive-tech-is-shaping-workforce-skills/

A First Year Student Continues Her Education Journey During Summer Internship - Suffolk University

Suffolk Law appealed to Anusha because of its urban character, diverse enrollment, and relatively small classes. She also had heard that the faculty were highly approachable, which was affirmed upon her matriculation. “I’ve never encountered a faculty member,” Anusha remarks, “who doesn’t want you to succeed in every possible way.” She aims to be a prosecutor in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office, where she will be interning this upcoming spring semester in the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit. Through the First Year Summer Internship Program (FYSIP), Anusha worked for The Honorable Judge Michelle Yee, JD ’01 at the Essex County Family and Probate Court in Salem, MA. Before coming to Suffolk, Anusha had been drawn to family law, so this internship opportunity stood out to her. She points out that family court can be a difficult experience for those involved in the litigation. Cases may entail emotionally charged issues, such as contested divorces, child custody, and child support. Many people involved in the hearings lack legal representation and adequate knowledge of the process, adding an additional burden on the parties.

https://www.suffolk.edu/law/careers/gain-experience/1st-year-summer-program/first-year-student-continues-her-education-journey-during-summer-internship

North Carolina becomes latest state to offer residents help with online skills - Madyson Fitzgerald, Stateline

North Carolina published statewide digital skills standards last month that identify key knowledge and abilities for residents and will soon launch an online course, joining a number of states that are hoping to strengthen digital literacy. The North Carolina Digital Skills Standards, published by the state’s information technology department, is a framework that can be used to help residents understand basic digital skills. Next, an online learning course will be developed and “digital navigators” will be trained to help residents across the state.

https://stateline.org/2025/11/17/north-carolina-becomes-latest-state-to-offer-residents-help-with-online-skills/

How Coursera’s latest move shakes up the upskilling movement - Alcino Donadel, University Business

Coursera will charge a 15% fee to colleges and companies that use its online learning platform, starting in 2026. It’s a significant shift in universities’ relationship with third-party online program managers, or OPMs, following the scramble toward digital learning during the pandemic and the MOOC trend of the 2010s. “[Coursera] is not as dependent on their university relationships and is instead relying on industry partners and internal content,” says Brady Colby, head of market research at Validated Insights, a higher education research firm. The shift should alert higher education leaders that they could lose a share of the upskilling industry to other sectors, particularly in artificial intelligence, Colby adds.

https://universitybusiness.com/how-courseras-latest-move-shakes-up-the-upskilling-movement/

Jobs Report: Hiring Flat for 2026 Grads - Emma Whitford, Inside Higher Ed

Employers are increasingly using skills-based hiring processes that value college internship and co-op experience over GPAs. Skills-based hiring remains popular—69.5 percent of employers reported they use the approach. Asked how students can best prepare for a skills-based hiring process, employers primarily said applicants should “prepare for interviews that demonstrate their skills,” “participate in experiential learning or work during college” and “translate college coursework into a skills language.”

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/students/careers/2025/11/17/jobs-report-hiring-flat-2026-grads

College Launches New Micro-Credential Program - Mike Robertson|, College of Charleston

The College of Charleston is partnering with global online learning platform Coursera to launch a new program providing industry-branded micro-credentials to students, alumni, faculty and staff at no cost. Students will be able to earn professional certificates for in-demand workplace skills that will complement any academic major or minor. Faculty and staff will also be able to earn professional certificates through flexible, online training.  “This partnership will provide members of the College of Charleston community the opportunity to build skills using resources from some of the world’s leading companies,” says College of Charleston President Andrew T. Hsu. “As one of the oldest colleges in the nation, the College of Charleston is setting the blueprint for other liberal arts institutions to follow.” 

https://today.cofc.edu/2023/11/08/college-launches-new-micro-credential-program/

The Microcredential Generation - Sara Weissman, Inside Higher Ed

Their classroom is a little unusual. In fact, it’s not a room at all. The students are out on a forested logging site in the Kennebec Valley, a rural area of Maine. Neat piles of logs sit in the distance. A whiteboard hangs off of a truck. Heavy machines, which from afar look like large metal creatures, are waiting to be used.  McDonough is enrolled in Northern Maine Community College’s mechanized logging operations and forest trucking program. Free to students and organized in partnership with the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast, the five-month program offers a pretty sweet-sounding deal: a logging credential along with commercial driver’s license training so the students can also haul the logs they’ve learned to cut. 

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-innovation/alternative-credentials/2024/10/01/microcredential-generation

NDSU to offer new online certificate focused on AI - Isac Dinesen, InForum

North Dakota State University plans to offer a new certificate diving into the world of artificial intelligence and how humans interact with it. The faculty who were part of coming up with the idea say not only is AI part of the future, it is part of the present. David Westerman, associate professor in the NDSU Department of Communication, said, “I wouldn't even call it the future, because it's the present for sure, as well.” Starting in spring, NDSU is offering a new certificate students can earn: Human Factors in Artificial Intelligence. The certificate aims to give people a greater understanding of not only what AI is used for, but why.

https://www.inforum.com/news/fargo/ndsu-to-offer-new-online-certificate-focused-on-ai

Developing anesthesia nursing micro-credentials based on core competencies: a Delphi study - Xin Yin, Huihui Hu, Luo Wang, Shuo Wang & Fang Zhou; BMC Medical Education volume

In recent years, advancements in medical technology and a surge in surgical procedures in China have led to an escalating demand for anesthetic nurse services. Nevertheless, the existing quantity of anesthesia nurses in China significantly falls short of fulfilling this requirement. This study aims to develop scientifically rigorous and standardized anesthesia nursing micro-credentials, with the expectation of providing innovative solutions for the training of anesthesia nursing professionals and injecting new impetus into the sustainable development of the industry.

https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-025-08199-z

Nebraska State Colleges Launch System-Wide Initiative to Re-Enroll Thousands of Adults with “Some College, No Degree” - Inside Track

The Nebraska State College System—which serves more than 9,000 students across its three campuses annually—today announced the launch of an ambitious new system-wide initiative, Reengage Nebraska. The program is designed to help thousands of stopped-out students with some college credit but no degree return to higher education and complete a degree or credential. Built in collaboration with the 501(c)(3) nonprofit InsideTrack, the effort will support re-enrollment, persistence and completion at Chadron State College, Peru State College and Wayne State College. “Our State Colleges are built to serve those seeking to continue their education, building a career, raising a family or serving their community,” said Dr. Paul Turman, chancellor of the Nebraska State College System. “Reengage Nebraska is about bridging the last mile between higher education and economic opportunity. It’s also a powerful investment in individual opportunity and ultimately in the long-term strength of our workforce, our local economies and our communities.”

https://www.insidetrack.org/news/nebraska-state-colleges-launch-system-wide-initiative-to-re-enroll-thousands-of-adults-with-some-college-no-degree

University To Offer Expanded Programming, ‘Micro-Credentials’ In Summer 2026 - Tatiana Zaragosa, the Echo

California Lutheran University will introduce expanded programming and “micro-credentials” for the summer 2026 session to combat low enrollment, keep students on campus and generate revenue, according to Brandy Yee, assistant to the provost for summer programming and partnerships. Initial announcements of the planned changes came courtesy of Leanne Neilson, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, at an Oct. 28 Town Hall meeting. 

https://cluecho.com/30143/news/university-to-offer-expanded-programming-micro-credentials-in-summer-2026/

Shorter term, bigger gain? More colleges try eight-week calendar - Amy Dipierro, EdSource

In eight-week terms, two courses are a full course load, rather than four or five in semesters.

Supporters say compressed terms attract and retain busy students juggling work and family.

But there’s limited large-scale research on shorter terms and switching to a new calendar requires big campus-wide changes.

https://edsource.org/2025/accelerated-learning-community-colleges/743832