Guest article by Dan Lauer
This saying has always held true: education is about preparing people for the world they will enter. As the oldest members of Generation Z — commonly defined as those born after 1997 — approach adulthood and prepare for college, higher education institutions must ask whether they are truly ready to meet this generation’s needs. Generation Z brings new expectations and behaviours shaped by growing up with ubiquitous digital access, and universities must adapt beyond simple technology upgrades to stay relevant.
Generation Z: A Multiplatform, Curious Cohort
Gen Z is the first generation to have no memory of a world without the internet. Digital media is an essential resource for them, not just entertainment. Research indicates these students spend significant time on smartphones and value always-on connectivity. Many say functioning Wi‑Fi and platforms like YouTube are central to their daily lives.
Yet it’s important to move past the stereotype that Gen Z simply consumes passively. They use social media and online platforms creatively to learn, network, and build communities. For example, campus social posts and short videos can generate awareness and community engagement in ways traditional outreach cannot. Students connect with peers, mentors, faculty, and professionals across platforms, cross-check information from multiple sources, and build preliminary understanding before seeking deeper guidance.
Far from isolating students, technology extends their access to expertise and resources. A student can contact a researcher, join an online seminar, or collaborate with peers across institutions—opening channels that static classroom structures often do not provide. The challenge for universities is to channel these behaviors into meaningful educational experiences: to integrate digital tools that support students’ career goals and learning outcomes rather than investing in technology for its own sake.
The Diploma and the Demand for Practical Skills
For many Gen Z students, the value of higher education is measured by concrete skills and real-world experience, not just a diploma. This cohort tends to favor applied learning, on-the-job training, and competency-based programs that demonstrate capability rather than merely certify attendance. As the most entrepreneurial-minded generation to date, they seek opportunities to innovate, launch projects, and solve real problems while still in school.
Colleges can respond by offering more experiential learning: internships, project-based courses, partnerships with startups and community organizations, and competency-based credentials that document what students can do. At institutions like UMSL Accelerate, experiential programs combine classroom instruction with peer collaboration and opportunities to test ideas in the marketplace. These experiences help students develop practical skills, pitch ideas, and build the kind of portfolio that employers increasingly value.
Faculty can redesign curriculum to encourage active learning and entrepreneurial thinking. Even traditional lectures can include interactive elements—questions, brief activities, collaborative problem-solving—that motivate students to create and apply knowledge rather than passively absorb it. Such pedagogical shifts align with Gen Z’s preference for doing and testing ideas in real time.
Cultivating a Culture That Embraces Risk and Learning from Failure
Hands-on experience is valuable partly because it creates opportunities to fail and learn. Excessive fear of failure can stifle creativity and make students risk-averse. In contrast, a learning environment that frames failure as a step in the process encourages experimentation, resilience, and faster learning.
Universities can foster this mindset by creating safe spaces for experimentation, offering iterative project cycles, providing timely feedback, and celebrating learning that comes from setbacks. These practices encourage students to iterate on ideas, refine their skills, and become more effective leaders and problem solvers.
Practical Steps for Institutions
Adapting to Generation Z begins with understanding what these students value: access to digital resources, practical and competency-based learning, entrepreneurial experience, and a culture that supports experimentation. Institutions can take concrete steps to meet those needs:
- Integrate digital tools that enhance collaboration, research, and mentorship.
- Develop competency-based certificates and micro-credentials that highlight demonstrable skills.
- Create partnerships with industry and local startups to expand internship and project opportunities.
- Redesign courses to include active, project-driven learning and frequent feedback cycles.
- Promote a campus culture that encourages risk-taking, reflection, and iteration.
When universities respond to Gen Z’s preferences and work alongside students to evolve curricula and campus culture, they will not only remain relevant—they will help prepare a generation ready to lead in a rapidly changing world.
Dan Lauer is the founding executive director of UMSL Accelerate, an initiative that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship in and outside the classroom and helps bring concepts from mind to market. He is an entrepreneur who has founded multiple companies, including Lauer Toys Inc., known for the Waterbabies® product line. Through UMSL Accelerate, he helps create a vibrant ecosystem of students, faculty, and community partners to inspire innovation and champion entrepreneurship.