Application of the Concept of Career Education to Higher Education: An Idealistic Model. Monographs on Career Education.

Overview & Synopsis

Career education is described as a concept designed to serve as a vehicle for educational reform in ways that will bring a more proper emphasis to "education as preparation for work" among basic goals of education at any level in the educational system. Several subconcepts of career education are discussed that seem to hold special relevance for change in higher education institutions: The changing relationships between education and work, the meaning of "work," the importance of multiple goals, career education as a concept rather than a program, and career education as a collaborative effort between education and the business/labor/industry community. In the second part of this monograph, an idealistic model is presented to illustrate what would constitute a comprehensive career education effort in a higher education institution, following the concepts outlined in the preceding section. Facets of the model discussed are the career education resource center; work experience, internships, and work study; teaching faculty; and curriculum. It is hoped that this paper may serve a useful purpose in helping higher education institutions, on an international scale, consider the possible utility that the career education concept holds for them. (TA)