Information Is No Longer Scarce, Judgment Is
The urgency for a new educational model is driven by a fundamental change in our relationship with information. Higher education developed much of its existing structure in a world where high-quality information and expertise were relatively scarce. Today, generative AI enables knowledge to be produced faster than any individual can absorb it.
In this new reality, the university’s role must shift. Institutions must equip students with the ability to determine what matters, what can be trusted, how ideas connect, and when knowledge should be put to use.
“Universities create distinctive value when they provide the context, community, expert guidance, and authentic experiences through which information becomes judgment and knowledge becomes capability,” DeVaney explained.
As routine tasks become easier to automate, human capabilities—such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and ethical judgment—become far more valuable. Technical capabilities remain important, but they must be developed alongside these human traits. The future will reward those who can exercise judgment about when and how to use powerful tools and connect technology to meaningful human challenges.
From Handoff to Partnership
For decades, the journey from college to career has been treated as a "handoff" occurring near graduation. Universities provided the education, career centers helped with resumes, and employers arrived at the end to recruit the "finished product." While internships offered a bridge, academic and professional experiences often remained disconnected.
The "Designing an Unreal Future: An Epic x Michigan Industry Day" event represented a departure from this siloed approach. While real-time 3-D technology was the organizing theme, the event was not merely about technical training. Students explored how technology is transforming work across automotive design, aerospace, advertising, and simulation. They participated in hands-on demonstrations and received direct feedback on their portfolios from industry professionals.
The diversity of experts—ranging from engineers and designers to artists and business leaders—allowed students to see that the future of mobility and immersive experience will emerge from the intersection of multiple disciplines.
The day concluded with the launch of the Epic Games and Future of Mobility Early Talent Competition, created in partnership with Podium Education. This competition invites students to engage with an authentic industry challenge, work across disciplines, and demonstrate their capabilities in a way that provides credible evidence of their potential.
More Pathways Than Students Realize
While the changing labor market can make the path to a career feel narrower, the pathways through which students can prepare have actually become more varied. Internships remain important, but they are no longer the only way to gain experience. Industry challenges, applied research, project-based courses, and interdisciplinary competitions all offer avenues for growth.
DeVaney highlighted a promising example from the University of Virginia called AI4VA. Through this program, UVA students work with Virginia businesses to explore how AI might address real organizational needs. Students gain experience applying emerging technology in a real-world context, while businesses gain access to fresh ideas.
To evaluate whether an opportunity is worthwhile, DeVaney suggests students ask three questions:
- Does this experience require me to apply what I am learning to a real problem?
- Does it produce evidence of what I can do that someone outside of a classroom would find credible?
- Does it help me better understand and articulate how I can create value?
A student who can answer these questions repeatedly throughout their education will graduate with a portfolio of evidence and a network of relationships that a simple transcript cannot provide.
