For generations, a college degree was the golden ticket—your gateway to a stable job, career
growth, and social prestige. But times are changing—and fast. Today, a growing number of
young learners are choosing alternative routes, focusing on practical skills and real-world
experiences over formal education. Success is being redefined, and traditional degrees are no
longer the only passport to opportunity.
From coding in co-working spaces to launching start-ups from their bedrooms, Gen Z is
prioritizing real-world skills and hands-on experience. Many are turning to online learning
platforms, skill-specific bootcamps, and hands-on internships to carve their own path.
Platforms like Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and Khan Academy are booming.
What the driver for the shift? Well there are mainly four drivers
• Relevance - Job market is rapidly changing and evolving, a lot faster than the text
books. Degree takes a back seat in front of practical knowledge. What matters now is
problem solving skills, creativity and work ethics. Now one need not to study for years
to acquire a degree which might become obsolete by the time one gets the degree.
• Accessibility – Limited seats in good university and cut throat competition has made
accessibility of university education out of the reach of many but at the same time
anyone with the desire to learn and a smart phone can learn.
• Affordability – Traditional education is expensive and out of the reach of many but at
the same time tech based educational platforms Skillshare, Udemy, Coursera has made
knowledge affordable.
• Specialisation – Usually university curriculum for a degree course covers vast area of
knowledge, with many domains but educational platforms, internships etc provide
opportunity to acquire deeper knowledge focused of specific domain or skill, while
saving time.
Having said that, it’s a fact that formal education still holds value, especially in the fields like
medicine, law, engineering etc. Also, is the university all about a Degree or a job? No!!!
University is a life experience which helps in developing relationships, critical thinking and
gives a diverse exposure. They have a clear framework, quality and credibility which usually
is missing or different in online courses as they all are not created equal.
Still, major employers like Amazon, Google, IBM have announced that they no longer
require a degree for a wide range of roles. Instead they need employee with ability to learn
and unlearn, who has the potential to perform and skill to adapt quickly – rather than a
degree.
Ultimately, there is no clear path to success. As educators, parents or policy makers, we are
in a fix to choose a path. But, in reality there isn’t one. It’s blended. Continuous learning and
adaptability is the key to success in today’s world. We need to nurture both paths and
empower learners to choose the path that works best for them
Rethinking Success: Do You Need A Degree To Get Ahead Today?
2025-05-23- 4
- 980
