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Whitepaper: The Strategic Opportunity: Unlocking Student Potential in Higher Education

A Strategic Opportunity to Improve Outcomes and Readiness

As AI continues to reshape the workforce, content knowledge alone is no longer enough. Today’s most successful graduates are those who can think critically, solve problems, and communicate effectively—skills employers consistently rank as top priorities.

CAE’s new whitepaper explores how colleges and universities can integrate higher-order skill development into the student experience—without adding new courses. Backed by national and international research, the paper outlines a scalable model that supports faculty, boosts retention, and improves student outcomes across disciplines.

Key findings include:

  • Only 53% of students graduate proficient in core skills like reasoning and analysis
  • Stronger critical thinking is associated with higher GPAs and student retention
  • Institutions can enhance instruction and assessment without adding new courses
  • Performance-based tasks mirror real-world complexity and foster deeper learning
  • Faculty engagement is essential—and highly achievable with targeted support

Fill out the form to download the whitepaper and explore the data, the model, and how your institution can build a lasting competitive advantage for students.

Get the Whitepaper