Higher education does not necessarily have to be front-loaded – meaning people may choose to start their working life first before circling back to complete their undergraduate or higher degrees. Speaking at The Straits Times Education Forum 2021 on Reimagining Universities, Post-Covid, held in partnership with SMU, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said employers should also look at the value and skills, and not just qualifications. SMU President Professor Lily Kong added that "every generation will look at the next generation and see how they're different". She said that senior leaders in companies and new graduates should learn from one another and optimise the skill sets within a company. [This article forms part of the last of the ST-SMU Reimagining Universities, Post-Covid four-part series.]