Liberal Education Can Save Itself

Autor/in	Ambar, Carmen Twillie
Titel	Liberal Education Can Save Itself
Quelle	In: Liberal Education, 104 (2018) 4 PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0024-1822
Schlagwörter	Stellungnahme; Liberal Arts; Colleges; Public Opinion; Educational Attitudes; Job Skills; Educational Objectives; Employment Potential; Labor Market; Institutional Mission; Institutional Advancement; Educational Resources; Sustainability + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? College; Hochschule; Fachhochschule; Öffentliche Meinung; Educational attitude; Bildungsverhalten; Erziehungseinstellung; Produktive Fertigkeit; Educational objective; Bildungsziel; Erziehungsziel; Arbeitsmarktbezogene Qualifikation; Beschäftigungsfähigkeit; Labour market; Arbeitsmarkt; nicht übertragen; Bildungsmittel; Nachhaltigkeit
Abstract	Despite generations of evidence that a liberal education is one of the most powerful engines of progress, for individuals and for our society, there is growing dismissal and even distrust of what liberal arts colleges do. Recent survey data from the American Council on Education show that the public's perception of the value and quality of a college degree has declined markedly over the past two years. Only 48 percent of respondents viewed liberal education favorably, compared to 88 percent and 71 percent favorability ratings for STEM and business education, respectively. Respondents' main measure of success in higher education came down to one word: jobs. The author makes the point that some of the public's perceptions fly in the face of empirical evidence to the contrary, including several employer research studies from the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). While higher education leaders believe liberal education is the best preparation a young person can have for the job market and for a rewarding and meaningful life, victories once won generations ago defending the value of multiple viewpoints in the search for truth, about the primacy of truth itself--are fraying in a way that could undermine liberal arts colleges and endanger our nation. The author argues that transforming higher education into training for specific, entry-level jobs is risky. In essence, it's a bet on future demand in the job market. Rather, she states that liberal education should prepare students to succeed in multiple careers. Studies show that graduates are likely to change jobs 15 times in their lives, with eleven job changes before age forty. The author asserts that liberal arts colleges must engage in more communication with the public about what their institutions do, and also practice self examination. On a practical and immediate level, she argues that liberal arts colleges must be more pro active and secure the resources that make scholarship, teaching, research, creativity, artistry, and engagement possible. They must also find a sustainable way of using those resources that supports their mission. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	Association of American Colleges and Universities. 1818 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009. Tel: 800-297-3775; Tel: 202-387-3760; Fax: 202-265-9532; e-mail: pub_desk@aacu.org; Web site: http://www.aacu.org/publications/index.cfm
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01