Skills Development: Higher Education Challenges and SWOT Analysis

This report addresses the challenges in learning within higher education, focusing on the increasing costs and campus violence. It proposes solutions such as government control over university privatization and heightened awareness of campus crime. A SWOT analysis is conducted, evaluating strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to succeeding in college, with considerations for learning qualities, experiences, potential improvements, distractions, and available support. References are provided to support the discussion on these challenges and potential solutions. Desklib provides a range of solved assignments and resources for students.

Running head: PROFESSIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
Academic and professional skills development for science and technology

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 1
Table of Contents
Challenges in Learning Higher Education.................................................................................2
Increase in cost.......................................................................................................................2
Campus Violence....................................................................................................................2
Responses to the Challenges..................................................................................................2
SWOT Analysis.........................................................................................................................2

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 2
Challenges in Learning Higher Education
Increase in cost
I think that this is the first and foremost challenge that is faced by the students at the time of
learning through any higher education course. The overall cost of the courses includes
admission fee, hostel fee, mess fee, monthly fees, fees for extracurricular activities,
assignments and practical etc. Along with this, most of the best level higher educational
courses are provided by the international universities situated in the different countries. This
indicated that students have to go abroad to continue their study. This also increases the cost
of living of the students due to the unknown place and unknown countries. It can be said that
quality educations have become a luxury that can be enjoyed only by a few students [1].
Campus Violence
Some recent examples present the increasing level of campus violence. In February 2010, a
biology professor shot and killed three professors in a meeting at the University of Alabama.
Almost three years before, a student of Virginia Tech killed more than thirty students and
then committed suicide on a shooting rampage. Many universities and colleges have been
penalized for not taking any actions towards sexual assault and rape cases. It increases the
suicide cases automatically as the rape victims are not treated with respect and hostility [2].
Responses to the Challenges
In my opinion, the problem of increased cost for the higher education can only be a deal
when the government controls the privatization of universities. The government of developed
and developing countries should acquire the top colleges and try to facilitate educational
programs at low cost so that talented students can also take advantage if they do not have
money. Similarly, students also rely on the government education system and should not
attract towards the extra facilities of the colleges [3].
I think that campus violence is the result of non-controllable policies and acts of the
universities and government of the related country. Before taking admission, the students
should consider the crime level of the college and at the time of studying, the students should
be aware and report very unusual activity to the management to take immediate action [4].

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 3
SWOT Analysis

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 4
References
[1] J. W. Beattie, B. Thornton, R. Laden and D. Brackett, “21st Century Challenges in
Higher Education: Strategic Changes and Unintended Consequences,” International
Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 62-71, 2013.
[2] T. A. Drape, R. Rudd, M. Lopez and D. Radford, “Challenges and Solutions to Higher
Education Institutions in Africa,” International Journal of Education, vol. 8, no. 1, pp.
43-58, 2016.
[3] C. YuenFook and G. K. Sidhu, “Investigating Learning Challenges Faced by Students in
Higher Education,” Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, vol. 186, pp. 604-612,
2015.
[4] A. Otara, “The Future of Education and Its Challenges in Africa.,” International Journal
of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 2, no. 9, pp. 151-156, 2012.
Strengths
What learning qualities do I have?
What experience do I bring to College?
How have I been successful in the past?
What knowledge I have gathered from
the research and development in the
desired course.
Do I have sufficient financial resources
to invest in my higher education?
Threats
What are some of the distractions to
my learning?
What obstacles/challenges may
prevent me from learning?
What are the challenges may have to
face during the study?
What are the laws and regulations of
the country in Which I want to study?
Opportunities
What support is available to help my
learning?
What are some of the positive
outcomes to passing?
How else can I get involved at College?
Do I have the knowledge about the
placements procedures of the college?
What are the required qualities to get
shortlisted for the admission?
Weaknesses
What has stopped me succeeding in
the past?
What things can I improve in?
How do I usually avoid learning?
Do I have the fear of getting fail?
Am I a quick decision making without
considering the pros and cons of the
related matter?