Education, Freedom and the Role of Universities and Colleges Essay Example

fields. These are crucial subjects considering the modern lifestyles in this age. A lot of business activities, industries, fields like agriculture, medicine are now hinged in scientific and technological breakthroughs. Notably, social life is now also being shaped in a quite drastic manner, by technology as evidenced by popularity of hand held electronic gadgets. Undoubtedly, these are important careers that make easier, safer and healthier human lives. Importance of vocational training cannot be overstated! However, that is not all the modern society needs. The universities, colleges and education system in general ought to not just mint career individuals to meet the needs of industries. There is need for universities and colleges also to produce citizens who attach importance to civic duties and who have a humane touch. This calls for universities and colleges to invest implementation of an education system that is well balanced by blending both liberal education and the career-oriented studies.

According to Ly (35) one of the reasons the applied sciences are taking over in terms of popularity within universities is the monetization of the education outcomes. Only about 6.1% Americans enrolled to liberal universities compared to 25% in 1950s (Oakley 39). Between 1990 and 2000, Ly (15) observes that a decline of 39% of colleges meeting the David Breneman’s criteria for liberal colleges was recorded.More learners are inclined to do courses that make them attractive to industries and therefore boost their chances of landing placements. Notably, a free society certainly needs more than career citizens. But the applied sciences may not offer to learners some of the benefits associated with liberal studies.

The liberal universities, now in decline, need to invest in promotion

of the subjects that offer a wide variety of skills that will stand test of changing circumstances of modern life while maintaining the core agenda of producing ‘free people’. This is a delicate balance that is not as easy to attain owing to the huge demand for graduates who are especially competent in specific fields of the industry. The mainstream view is that by taking longer hours honing certain skills relevant to a certain field, the higher the likelihood of reward ;especially financial reward. But there are limitations to this kind of approach that the learners occasionally fail to take note of. To excel in the ones field of specialization, one needs more than the hands on competences and skills.

A lot of other challenges that these careers present need not only the technical knowhow to solve. The workers need other personal attributes that may only be derived from exposure to liberal studies (Baker & Baldwin 249). Leaders in these need to critical thinkers who can effectively and reliably solve emerging problems. They need to be competent communicators who can give accurate instructions and decipher information without ambiguity. They need to be creative in carrying out their duties (Pangle 209). They need to be culturally adept to be able to work seamlessly alongside people of diverse ethnicities, nationalities and cultures(Ly 16). They need to be socially competent to work in functional teams. They need to have analytical skills to understand concepts and trends. Very crucially, excelling in the industries will be influenced by a person’s ability to keep adapting to changes in the work place and industry. They also need to be conversant with ethics (Pangle

209).

These are some of the attributes that liberal education seeks to develop in the learners. Seneca believes liberal studies should make meaningful impact in people; build character including loyalty, bravery, simplicity, modesty and morals (Seneca 16). If it fails on these measures, it is need superfluous. Liberal education should not be given for the sake. It also needs to be relevant. Less emphasis should be assigned in such subjects that have no meaningful impact in attaining the ultimate goal of liberal education. As Seneca believes, being well versed in geometry and astrology does not translate into good morals (Seneca 15).Essentially, liberal education, given alongside applied sciences will produce the ideal employee that the modern day and future industry needs.

To prepare people become responsible citizens and at the same time economically productive, universities need to adopt a hybrid curricula. This is the instruction approach that will imprint humane and social attributes to the economically competitive labor force. The universities also need to become ambassadors of liberal education. They should endeavor to sensitize policy makers, the learners their parents and the industry players on the importance of studying liberal education. By so doing, the understanding that technical education and liberal education does not supplement but complement each other will lead to production of more good citizens by universities and colleges.

Works Cited

• The Epistles of Seneca; On Liberal and Vocational Studies.
• Quang C. Ly.A Liberal Education Matters: A Comprehensive Look at the Hidden Truth on the
  Value of Liberal Arts and Sciences Degrees and Why It Will Always Be Needed. Jacksonville University. 2015.
• LORRAINE SMITH PANGLE .Reclaiming the Core: Liberal Education in the Twenty-First Century Taylor and Francis Group.
  

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