Opinion: Realigning higher education with opportunity to secure Utah’s future

Utah is ranked fifth in the nation for higher education, but as Utah’s economy evolves, so must our approach to higher education.

Utah is a place of opportunity — a state where families thrive, businesses grow and communities flourish. To ensure this legacy continues, we must plan for the future, particularly by preparing Utahns for the workforce of tomorrow. As our economy evolves, so must our approach to higher education.

Our state is fortunate to be home to some of the best universities, and Utah is ranked fifth in the nation for higher education. These institutions — recognized for their innovation, research and ability to turn out highly skilled graduates — provide all Utahns the opportunity to contribute to our economy and create the life they want to live.

However, even the best systems must adapt. Currently, critical industries such as health care, education, social work and technology face a troubling challenge: not enough trained workers are available to fill high-demand jobs. This issue is continuing to grow. In Utah, jobs in computer science, aerospace and defense and engineering are expected to grow 42%, 27% and 40%, respectively, in the next 10 years.

These shortages have real consequences — not just for businesses, but for families and communities across Utah. Companies struggling to find talent may look elsewhere, and our children may feel compelled to leave the state to find opportunities. It’s time to realign our education programs with industry needs.

Bridging the gap between industry and education

One of the most effective ways to prepare our students for success is by fostering stronger collaboration between higher education institutions and industries. Employers consistently highlight skill gaps in potential hires in areas like automation, robotics and systems engineering. They also emphasize the need for “durable” skills such as communication and time management, which reflects the need to reexamine our general education requirements to ensure they are appropriately focused and meaningful.

Addressing these gaps will require innovative approaches and more industry partnerships with universities. Involving professionals in curriculum design ensures students learn the skills employers need today — and tomorrow.

Another method for bridging the gap is by expanding internships, apprenticeships and other hands-on opportunities. Employers overwhelmingly view these experiences as essential, with 64% valuing internships for preparing students for the workforce. Programs like Stadler Rail’s apprenticeship model and Diesel’s Tech Pathway have already proven effective, with participants gaining direct experience and landing well-paying jobs.

Addressing program inefficiencies

While high-demand fields like nursing, accounting, software development and data science consistently produce strong outcomes for graduates and meet pressing workforce needs, other programs pose challenges. In 2022, four higher education institutions across Utah collectively graduated just 14 students in one program and 20 students in another.

One solution could be to consolidate low-enrollment programs into one or two institutions that specialize in them. This approach would reduce duplication that costs students and taxpayers while maintaining access to these niche fields for students who are passionate about them. By concentrating funding and faculty where they can make the greatest impact, we can enhance the quality of education of all programs while freeing up resources to address areas of critical workforce demand.

This initiative isn’t cutting education funding; it’s making every dollar count. By strategically prioritizing resources, we can ensure our students have access to programs that lead directly to rewarding careers.

Realigning higher education

This initiative isn’t cutting education funding; it’s making every dollar count. Our Utah universities must stay relevant and affordable for students, families, local industries, taxpayers and a continued prosperous future. By strategically prioritizing resources, we can ensure students have access to programs that lead directly to lifelong opportunities.

Source: Utah News