The shake-up in U.S. foreign aid, spearheaded by the dismantling of USAID, is causing ripples across higher education. Universities that have traditionally prepared students for careers in foreign service and international development — and presumably their prospective enrollees — are now questioning the job prospects that follow such programs.
Georgetown alumni career coach Colin Steele puts it bluntly: “If you had a school or a program that was traditionally an aid feeder, who and what is that program for now? Why would anyone hand you $250,000 to do that?”
With thousands of USAID staffers facing or suffering layoffs and major cuts in projects, universities such as Jessup and Georgetown are concerned about potential shifts in enrollment. Some might decide now is the perfect time to take shelter in an education program, while others might reconsider their studies altogether.
Yet, despite these challenges, the need for skilled professionals in global development persists. Universities are responding by adapting their curriculums to include broader teaching on development, focusing more on skills such as social entrepreneurship and less on traditional USAID-focused strategies.
Read: What will USAID feeder schools do now?
Georgetown alumni career coach Colin Steele puts it bluntly: “If you had a school or a program that was traditionally an aid feeder, who and what is that program for now? Why would anyone hand you $250,000 to do that?”
With thousands of USAID staffers facing or suffering layoffs and major cuts in projects, universities such as Jessup and Georgetown are concerned about potential shifts in enrollment. Some might decide now is the perfect time to take shelter in an education program, while others might reconsider their studies altogether.
Yet, despite these challenges, the need for skilled professionals in global development persists. Universities are responding by adapting their curriculums to include broader teaching on development, focusing more on skills such as social entrepreneurship and less on traditional USAID-focused strategies.
Read: What will USAID feeder schools do now?