Rob Vischer on Meaning, Purpose and the Future of Higher Education - Newsroom

June 24, 2026 - 04:53

In a recent op-ed for University Business, St. Thomas President Rob Vischer laid out a vision for the future of higher education that goes beyond job training. Vischer argues that colleges must double down on cultivating meaning, purpose, and human character, even as artificial intelligence reshapes the workforce.

Vischer acknowledges that career preparation remains a core function of universities. But he warns against reducing education to a purely transactional path to employment. Instead, he calls for a model that integrates professional skills with the kind of deep, human-centered learning that AI cannot replicate. This includes critical thinking, ethical reasoning, empathy, and the ability to collaborate across differences.

The op-ed comes at a time when many institutions are scrambling to adapt to rapid technological change and declining public confidence in the value of a degree. Vischer suggests that the real opportunity lies in helping students find their sense of purpose, not just their first job. He argues that universities are uniquely positioned to provide the space and mentorship for that kind of exploration.

By focusing on character formation and the human skills that machines lack, Vischer believes higher education can remain essential. The goal, he writes, is to prepare graduates who are not only employable but also equipped to lead meaningful lives and contribute to a complex world.