Universities are century-old institutions that have passed knowledge about various majors on to the next generation. In today’s world, most careers that are held in high regard require a university degree, such as a degree in medicine to become a doctor or a degree in law to become a lawyer. While there are majors that combine knowledge with practical exercises and show students the connection between their degree and employment after school, some degrees like philosophy are focused more so on passing on the knowledge of literature and theology to sharpen their students’ minds. In this essay, I will discuss whether universities should focus on developing knowledge and critical thinking or on preparing students for a life of employment after graduation.
In order to answer that question, we have to agree on whether the purpose of educational institutions like universities have changed. The job market has become much more competitive, and most employers ask that their new hires have at least some kind of expertise and experience in their field. Universities can become that bridge between a primary education and employment by teaching students the skills they require to advance in their fields. Furthermore, this can be an opportunity to climb up the corporate ladder faster for the graduate – they have maybe had the chance to network with hiring agents in their field of interest prior to graduating, or they come back to school as an alumni to headhunt for more talents.
That being said, obtaining a university degree is still considered an educational act. In order to become an expert at something, one must learn it – whether that be law, engineering, psychology or veterinary medicine. Moreover, university teaches one’s mind to not just accept and follow blindly, but to critically review a question or a problem. Universities can also teach young minds to hear out other opinions, innovate together in groups, and to cooperate. This concept has proven itself century over century again and while society has changed drastically in the past decade, the human desire to learn has not.
All in all, I agree that universities should incorporate real life examples into their students’ curriculum to prepare them for what is to come after academia. However, the main task of it should be to educate the next generation and to train their minds to become independent and self-critical. As a person that holds an undergraduate degree in business law, I have always appreciated learning about using my degree as an employee, but the reason I started university was to study my degree, not how to use it after graduating.
Furthermore, I suspect that in the near coming future, the surge in AI use will have a negative impact on the work force. With artificial intelligence being able to take over the most common skills needed in employment, it is ever so important for us humans to build our own knowledge and to aspire growth. And for those who have not had the privilege to sharpen those skills in their early adult years, it will become increasingly challenging to compete with AI and to stand out as an individual in the job market.