For universities whether to develop students’ skills for employment or to focus on deepening the knowledge and teaching to think critically is a contentious question. In my opinion, maintaining a high level of access to knowledge and strengthening the ability to reason critically should remain a priority as it paves the way for students in many directions at once.
Some people argue that universities should prepare the students for their upcoming careers, backing their statement by the fact that the future employees might feel more confident to start their careers having been exposed to a real job environment. While it is true, the skillset needed for each position can differ significantly at each company. For instance, lawyers work for a range of companies and the requirements depend on the sphere, the residing country or the scope of operation of the company. Therefore, resulting in a lot of time being wasted focused on skills that fail to fulfill real job requirements at all. Moreover, the gap between the period of graduation and landing the first job in their specialization should be filled by internships.
In contrast, putting more effort in the academic scope of the student allows them to have a better foundation in a subject that is essential for any type of work. Also, students who think more critically tend to resolve problems easier when encountering them for the first time which is a sign of flexibility. Consequently, flexibility and the ability to approach an issue from various perspectives are one of the most desired traits by employers.
In conclusion, students exposed to critical thinking and who possess broad fundamental knowledge of the subject as a result have more mobility and are able to adapt in any environment.