Developing Whole-Systems Competency in Higher Education To Meet Emerging Market Demand and Societal Sustainability

Abstract

We live in an age of increasing complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity, which poses formidable challenges across the breadth of human societies. These challenges can be seen as three interlocking crises: 1.) unsustainable sys tems that lead to increasingly complex societal needs; 2.) business and organizational changes that result in new demand for specific skills; and 3.) a rigid, linear model for higher education. This article suggests that because the crises are synergistically interconnected, reform in higher education will also help address the other challenges. An approach to education based on whole-systems competency (WSC) as an integrated platform to general education and traditional disciplinary training, would promote building the skills necessary to meet growing market demands (employability), which can concomitantly meet increasing societal needs (sustainability). Based on this premise, the College of Charleston surveyed local organizations in Charleston, South Carolina, to test organizational behavior on sustainability. Original survey data indicated that recent college graduates are deficient in specific skills that are increasingly demanded by employers. Based on the results of this research, the Office of Sustainability (OOS) at the College of Charleston created a program to enhance professional development and leadership to address some of the skill deficiencies revealed by the survey. While such programs can augment needed critical skills, integrating WSC as a systemic part of the educational process will require additional program changes and broader institutional support.