Students and parents increasingly press colleges and universities to demonstrate that multidisciplinary education provides employable skills that result in meaningful careers. They want to know that broad-based curricula will facilitate employment in specialized occupations, with 77 percent of high school students desiring an education that directly prepares them for employment and believing that most employers prefer graduates with career-skill training. This quest for career-driven education, however, contrasts with surveys of employers that show that that the ability to think and inquire independently and to have broad-based knowledge will be essential across numerous careers.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
