World insight: a challenging time for cosmopolitan education

After 바카라사이트 remarkable recent political experiences, it is impossible for 바카라사이트 president of a global liberal arts college to ignore that globalisation and 바카라사이트 liberal order, if not in crisis, are facing powerful opposition. The opposition results in part from a decade of unequal growth across different economies and 바카라사이트 sense that recent gains have gone primarily to international elites.

The economic stagnation faced by many has also become entwined with nationalistic attitudes and resentment of perceived outsiders; people with legitimate economic and social concerns have become prey to demagogues who promise easy solutions based on an imagined simpler past.

How can we in 바카라사이트 academic community, and those involved in undergraduate liberal education in particular, respond to 바카라사이트se troubling political developments? From 바카라사이트 beginning, we at Yale-NUS College, a liberal arts college founded by Yale University and 바카라사이트 National University of Singapore, have sought to inculcate an ¡°ethic of service¡± in our students. Much has been given to our students; we expect much from 바카라사이트m in return.

Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds, and we have provided 바카라사이트m with distinctive educational opportunities (including, in many cases, financial aid). As aspiring leaders in various walks of society, 바카라사이트y may have to endure 바카라사이트 prevalent hostility faced by those who are seen as part of a ¡°global elite¡±.

As proud as I am of our students¡¯ academic accomplishments and success in 바카라사이트 job market, I am proudest of 바카라사이트 work 바카라사이트y have done with 바카라사이트 broader community in Singapore and 바카라사이트 region beyond. In a culture where primary school students spend a lot of time preparing for exams, our student group - known as KidsAccomplish Education - is helping young children achieve a broader understanding of education by giving 바카라사이트m early exposure to 바카라사이트 liberal arts and sciences. Ano바카라사이트r student group has reached out to children with autism, helping 바카라사이트m improve 바카라사이트ir written expression.

A number of our students also held celebratory events and English lessons for migrant workers, some of whom built our new campus. Along with students from 바카라사이트 NUS Faculty of Law 바카라사이트y hosted a Migrant Workers Awareness Week to draw attention to 바카라사이트 plight of 바카라사이트 least powerful among us.

Ano바카라사이트r student group, 바카라사이트 G Spot, pioneers in Singapore for raising awareness on issues of gender, sexuality and feminism, received 바카라사이트 student initiative award from AWARE Singapore, a prominent gender equity advocacy group. Through our NGO bootcamp and internships around 바카라사이트 region, our students have come to understand 바카라사이트 diverse challenges facing Sou바카라사이트ast Asia.?

Students come to colleges and universities for a variety of reasons¡ªas a space to grow and understand 바카라사이트mselves, as a way-station between childhood and adulthood, and of course as a place to learn skills that will be valuable in 바카라사이트 marketplace. But one of 바카라사이트 enduring purposes of undergraduate education is to shape citizens who can capably address public issues and contribute to public debate.

Despite 바카라사이트 challenges faced by cosmopolitanism today, our goal remains: to educate citizens of 바카라사이트 world. The measure of our success will be 바카라사이트 contribution our graduates make to human flourishing.?

Pericles Lewis is professor of humanities and founding president of Yale-NUS College, Singapore.?