Kathleen deLaski unpacks her new book, which envisions higher education as a stepladder to skills that learners collect over a lifetime and present to employers. In her eloquent new book, Who Needs College Anymore? Imagining a Future Where Degrees Won’t Matter (Harvard Education Press), Kathleen deLaski, a former journalist who founded the Education Design Lab to help colleges develop alternative pathways for learners to achieve their goals, traces the history of the skills-based education movement and outlines a compelling vision for a future where hiring and economic success are driven by skills—not degrees. DeLaski, who also teaches at George Mason University and serves on the board of Credential Engine, a nonprofit seeking to create standards and clarity for alternative credentials, spoke with Inside Higher Ed via Zoom.
