Emphasizing real-world skills in undergraduate projects
“When you combine the depth and breadth of a liberal arts education and the disciplined exploration and innovation of a global research university, you are preparing graduates to be agile and successful in a rapidly changing workforce.” – Ardine Williams, vice president for workforce development at Amazon and member of William & Mary’s Board of Visitors.
An estimated 80% of undergraduates participate in research at W&M. Their inquiry and drive creates valuable new knowledge for the world and prepares them for the workplace. A recent article from Virginia Business examines research at W&M and its power to equip students with leadership, teamwork, problem solving and other job-readiness skills.
“Employers are looking for graduates who can articulate their accomplishments, can bounce back after failing at risky projects and can use critical-thinking skills to solve novel problems,” Dan Cristol, biology professor and director of faculty-mentored undergraduate research at W&M tells the magazine. “This is exactly what undergraduate researchers do.”
