Working with Millennials within Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities

Working with Millennials within Higher Education:

Challenges and Opportunities

Working with Millennials within Higher Education:

Challenges and Opportunities

Rachel Jessop:

Helen Burdette:

Rachel Jessop:

Helen Burdette:

Who are the Millennials?Who are the Millennials?

Children of Boomers and Gen-Xers Key dates:

GI: 1901-1924; Silent: 1925-1942; Boomer: 1943-1960; X: 1961-1981

Millennial dates open to discussion Millennials are the largest youth generation in history: in the US there are 70 million millennials, which is 3 x the size of Generation X

There are many sub-groups within the Millennial Generation

Children of Boomers and Gen-Xers Key dates:

GI: 1901-1924; Silent: 1925-1942; Boomer: 1943-1960; X: 1961-1981

Millennial dates open to discussion Millennials are the largest youth generation in history: in the US there are 70 million millennials, which is 3 x the size of Generation X

There are many sub-groups within the Millennial Generation

Who are the Millennials?Who are the Millennials?

Different names for the Millennial generation: Net generation Generation Y Generation Me The Thumb Generation Echo-Boomers Anti-Boomers The Dotcoms Paradoxical Generation

Different names for the Millennial generation: Net generation Generation Y Generation Me The Thumb Generation Echo-Boomers Anti-Boomers The Dotcoms Paradoxical Generation

The Millennial mindsetThe Millennial mindset Wanted and Protected Do what’s right for you Just be yourself You can be anything you want to be Think global, act local Find your match.com (when you’re ready!)

Leave no-one behind: the equality revolution

Expectation meets reality The information-generation

Wanted and Protected Do what’s right for you Just be yourself You can be anything you want to be Think global, act local Find your match.com (when you’re ready!)

Leave no-one behind: the equality revolution

Expectation meets reality The information-generation

The Millennial mindset: statistics


Decline in organised religion In Britain, fewer than 7% of those aged 15-19 and 5% of those aged 20-29 attend church.

In the USA, only 18% of 18-29 attend religious services every week. The number of college freshmen who named no religious preference doubled between 1985 and 2003.

Self-expression acceptable: cosmetic surgery on the increase According to a Grazia magazine survey in 2005, 25% of teenage boys would like to have cosmetic surgery, more than 40% of teenage girls have considered it.

Decline in organised religion In Britain, fewer than 7% of those aged 15-19 and 5% of those aged 20-29 attend church.

In the USA, only 18% of 18-29 attend religious services every week. The number of college freshmen who named no religious preference doubled between 1985 and 2003.

Self-expression acceptable: cosmetic surgery on the increase According to a Grazia magazine survey in 2005, 25% of teenage boys would like to have cosmetic surgery, more than 40% of teenage girls have considered it.



Lack of political engagement at national level In the UK 2001 general election, only 53% of students aged 18-24 voted, as compared to 78.5% aged 45-54.

In the USA presidential election of 2008, citizens age 65 and older had the highest registration rate (79 percent) while those age 18 to 24 had the lowest (58 percent).

The youngest group also had the lowest voting rate (47 percent), while those age 45 and older had the highest turnout (about 70 percent).

Lack of political engagement at national level In the UK 2001 general election, only 53% of students aged 18-24 voted, as compared to 78.5% aged 45-54.

In the USA presidential election of 2008, citizens age 65 and older had the highest registration rate (79 percent) while those age 18 to 24 had the lowest (58 percent).

The youngest group also had the lowest voting rate (47 percent), while those age 45 and older had the highest turnout (about 70 percent).


The Millennial mindset: statistics The new British family

Nearly a quarter of children in 2007 (24%) lived with just one parent last year - treble the proportion recorded in 1972.

55% of women with children under five now work outside the home, compared with 25% in 1975.

Between 1996 and 2006 the number of cohabiting couples rose by 65 per cent from 1.4million to 2.3million.

The average age to get married in 2005 was 29.5 for women and 31.7 for men.

The average age for women giving birth in 2007 was 29.3 years, compared with 26.6 years in 1971.

The new British family Nearly a quarter of children in 2007 (24%) lived with just one parent last year - treble the proportion recorded in 1972.

55% of women with children under five now work outside the home, compared with 25% in 1975.

Between 1996 and 2006 the number of cohabiting couples rose by 65 per cent from 1.4million to 2.3million.

The average age to get married in 2005 was 29.5 for women and 31.7 for men.

The average age for women giving birth in 2007 was 29.3 years, compared with 26.6 years in 1971.


The Millennial mindset: statistics Over-optimistic

On average, students overestimate starting salaries by 10%.

In 2009, the number of graduate level vacancies will have fallen by 5% compared to 2008.

Anxious and depressed 1 in 10 children aged 1-15 has a mental health disorder and 1 in 5 young people experience a mental health problem in the course of a year.

Suicide remains the most common cause of death in men under the age of 35.

Students experience higher than average levels of anxiety and depression: 12% of male and 15% of female students experienced clinical depression (compared with one in ten of the general population).

Over-optimistic On average, students overestimate starting salaries by 10%.

In 2009, the number of graduate level vacancies will have fallen by 5% compared to 2008.

Anxious and depressed 1 in 10 children aged 1-15 has a mental health disorder and 1 in 5 young people experience a mental health problem in the course of a year.

Suicide remains the most common cause of death in men under the age of 35.

Students experience higher than average levels of anxiety and depression: 12% of male and 15% of female students experienced clinical depression (compared with one in ten of the general population).

The Millennial mindset “…”

The Millennial mindset “…”

“I’ve been brought up with the notion that I can have it all – the meaningful career and the family package” Clare Hutchinson, Nottingham student, quoted in Impact issue 196, April 2009

“I have always had the belief and principle that no mountain is too high to climb and with hard work and confidence in one’s own abilities, anything is possible.” Nottingham student

“Let us be as egotistical, techno-obsessed and travel-savvy as we’d like because we have something the other generations lack: the belief we can do something different and one day change the world.”Samantha Brett, Quit the Gen Y bashing already! Cleo Magazine, April 2009 www.cleo.com.au

“I’ve been brought up with the notion that I can have it all – the meaningful career and the family package” Clare Hutchinson, Nottingham student, quoted in Impact issue 196, April 2009

“I have always had the belief and principle that no mountain is too high to climb and with hard work and confidence in one’s own abilities, anything is possible.” Nottingham student

“Let us be as egotistical, techno-obsessed and travel-savvy as we’d like because we have something the other generations lack: the belief we can do something different and one day change the world.”Samantha Brett, Quit the Gen Y bashing already! Cleo Magazine, April 2009 www.cleo.com.au

DiscussionDiscussion Example of challenges within your work place

Example of opportunities within your workplace

Changes made as a result of Millennials

Example of challenges within your work place

Example of opportunities within your workplace

Changes made as a result of Millennials

Working with Millennials in a

University context “…”

Working with Millennials in a

University context “…”

“Simply having a degree does not guarantee a graduate job and a silver plated salary.” Dr John Jerrim, University of Southampton, quoted in the Times Higher Education, 23 April 2009

“Student: ‘I want you to re-mark my work.’ Me (lecturer): ‘Why is that?’ Student: ‘I was expecting a much higher mark.’ Me: ‘Have you read the feedback sheet I provided?’ Student: ‘No, it’s the mark I’m not happy with.’” Comment by thedigger to Now is the age of the discontented, Times Higher Education, 4 June 2009

“Faculty members feel pressured to shorten lectures, increase group-discussion time, and ignore the "multitasking" student who is e-mailing his friends in the back of the room -- all to attract and satisfy a generation that doesn't have the discipline of its predecessors.” Professor Naomi Baron, Linguistics professor at American University

“Simply having a degree does not guarantee a graduate job and a silver plated salary.” Dr John Jerrim, University of Southampton, quoted in the Times Higher Education, 23 April 2009

“Student: ‘I want you to re-mark my work.’ Me (lecturer): ‘Why is that?’ Student: ‘I was expecting a much higher mark.’ Me: ‘Have you read the feedback sheet I provided?’ Student: ‘No, it’s the mark I’m not happy with.’” Comment by thedigger to Now is the age of the discontented, Times Higher Education, 4 June 2009

“Faculty members feel pressured to shorten lectures, increase group-discussion time, and ignore the "multitasking" student who is e-mailing his friends in the back of the room -- all to attract and satisfy a generation that doesn't have the discipline of its predecessors.” Professor Naomi Baron, Linguistics professor at American University

Students as customersStudents as customers

Tuition fees

Students and parents blame staff for failures

Under funding

Tuition fees

Students and parents blame staff for failures

Under funding

Teaching & LearningTeaching & LearningLecturers’ comments are “just your opinion”Which generation should adapt - us to them, them to us?Death of traditional lecture?Multi-tasking gone mad?

Lecturers’ comments are “just your opinion”Which generation should adapt - us to them, them to us?Death of traditional lecture?Multi-tasking gone mad?

Exams and assessmentsExams and assessments

Cheating more prevalent Entitlement to a 2:1 Reality of academic competition and experience

Cheating more prevalent Entitlement to a 2:1 Reality of academic competition and experience

Graduation and ambitions

Graduation and ambitions Lofty ambitions, starting

salaries, career progression, work-life balance

It’s not what you know, who you know, but who you ARE

Mis-sold degrees and earning potential

“Friends” isn’t reality

Lofty ambitions, starting salaries, career progression, work-life balance

It’s not what you know, who you know, but who you ARE

Mis-sold degrees and earning potential

“Friends” isn’t reality

Millennials within a study abroad context

“…”


“…” “I wish that the Study Abroad Office gave us more advice of what to expect and helped us more with accommodation. All of us when we got here had no idea what it would be like looking for somewhere to live and its something that I really really wish I had known about.”

“Spanish would be better learned engaging with the people, maybe working in a bar, rather than studying.”

“Fourthly, I have to put my city of birth, my address since birth is Birmingham, but my actual birthplace is the town of Redditch, should I put Redditch?”(All quotes from University of Leeds students)

“I wish that the Study Abroad Office gave us more advice of what to expect and helped us more with accommodation. All of us when we got here had no idea what it would be like looking for somewhere to live and its something that I really really wish I had known about.”

“Spanish would be better learned engaging with the people, maybe working in a bar, rather than studying.”

“Fourthly, I have to put my city of birth, my address since birth is Birmingham, but my actual birthplace is the town of Redditch, should I put Redditch?”(All quotes from University of Leeds students)


“…”


“…” “I am writing because I am in the process of booking my ticket to Murcia and would like to know if I have to pay for extra luggage or whether allowances are made for ERASMUS students. At the moment I am only allowed 20kg on the plane and would like to know whether we receive any financial help from the university for the extra luggage.”

“A quick question in reply to this email over application, when you say attach a passport photo does it have to be identical to the one in my passport, or just one which is eligible like you get done in those booths? thank you.”

“I am writing because I am in the process of booking my ticket to Murcia and would like to know if I have to pay for extra luggage or whether allowances are made for ERASMUS students. At the moment I am only allowed 20kg on the plane and would like to know whether we receive any financial help from the university for the extra luggage.”

“A quick question in reply to this email over application, when you say attach a passport photo does it have to be identical to the one in my passport, or just one which is eligible like you get done in those booths? thank you.”

Working with millennials in a study

abroad context

Working with millennials in a study

abroad context General good practice Processes Be prepared for “extra” information Manage expectations Remember non-traditional students Be aware of financial realities Use study abroad alumni Flexibility Communication methods & response time

General good practice Processes Be prepared for “extra” information Manage expectations Remember non-traditional students Be aware of financial realities Use study abroad alumni Flexibility Communication methods & response time

Marketing to outgoing students

Marketing to outgoing students

Be aware that millennials are: interested in products that satisfy their personal goals

Looking for learning opportunities Desperate for career advice and advancement Money aware Not keen on long-term commitment

Work with alumni Develop service learning & volunteering opportunities

Manage expectations & communication

Be aware that millennials are: interested in products that satisfy their personal goals

Looking for learning opportunities Desperate for career advice and advancement Money aware Not keen on long-term commitment

Work with alumni Develop service learning & volunteering opportunities

Manage expectations & communication

Using technologyUsing technology

Use appropriate new technologies Remember that emails and websites are taken for granted

Information available 24/7 Make the most of automated email responses, FAQs and instant messaging

Use Millennials’ knowledge and experience

Make information sessions interesting and relevant

Use appropriate new technologies Remember that emails and websites are taken for granted

Information available 24/7 Make the most of automated email responses, FAQs and instant messaging

Use Millennials’ knowledge and experience

Make information sessions interesting and relevant

Working with US incomers


Challenges:

US Higher Education is expensive and studying abroad is only a small part of this

Millennial phenomenon has existed much longer in US than in UK

Exchange pressures - need to ensure US students have a positive experience whilst not treating them differently to other incomers

Challenges:

US Higher Education is expensive and studying abroad is only a small part of this

Millennial phenomenon has existed much longer in US than in UK

Exchange pressures - need to ensure US students have a positive experience whilst not treating them differently to other incomers



Opportunities:

Pro-active Ambitious Technology savvy Enthusiasm and volunteerism

Opportunities:

Pro-active Ambitious Technology savvy Enthusiasm and volunteerism

Working with Millennials’ parents


Challenges: Parents are older, more affluent, and parenting for longer

Helicopter parents / jet-fighters! Who are they?

Children as an investment, parents want a return on their money

Students less able to problem solve

Challenges: Parents are older, more affluent, and parenting for longer

Helicopter parents / jet-fighters! Who are they?

Children as an investment, parents want a return on their money

Students less able to problem solve



Opportunities:

Parents as allies Supportive of our field For many, international exchange is a vital part of HE therefore parents prepare for this

Opportunity to globalise Boomers and Xers vicariously

Opportunities:

Parents as allies Supportive of our field For many, international exchange is a vital part of HE therefore parents prepare for this

Opportunity to globalise Boomers and Xers vicariously

Conclusions…Conclusions… Challenges

Technology Ambition Collaboration Used to uncertainty in life

Opportunities This generation are going to change the world

“We are not going to let the world down.” (Chaz Sshmitz, 16)

“My generation is one of the most confident and unique of the century.” (Robby Willey, 16)

“We have proved the critics wrong when they say the young aren’t old enough, capable enough, or smart enough to bring about change.” (Craig Kielburger, 17, Free the Children)

A global generation

Challenges Technology Ambition Collaboration Used to uncertainty in life

Opportunities This generation are going to change the world

“We are not going to let the world down.” (Chaz Sshmitz, 16)

“My generation is one of the most confident and unique of the century.” (Robby Willey, 16)

“We have proved the critics wrong when they say the young aren’t old enough, capable enough, or smart enough to bring about change.” (Craig Kielburger, 17, Free the Children)

A global generation

LessonsLessons

Comparisons are not helpful Millennials are not wrong, just different, and they are our most challenging competitors!

Comparisons are not helpful Millennials are not wrong, just different, and they are our most challenging competitors!

Working with Millennials within Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities

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