International institutions unite to bolster liberal arts

Source: Alamy

Adaptable: 바카라사이트 lessons of 바카라사이트 study of 바카라사이트 humanities are key to solving problems that technology cannot address

The crucial role of liberal arts in higher education is being lost in universities worldwide, according to 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor behind a new global network of colleges.

Christina Slade, head of Bath Spa University, said that global discussion about universities ¡°privileges 바카라사이트 hard sciences¡± while 바카라사이트 identity of liberal arts is being ¡°downplayed¡±. She added that 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s interest in vocational areas of study was also putting pressure on 바카라사이트 field.

Professor Slade was speaking at 바카라사이트 launch last week at Bath Spa of 바카라사이트 Global Academy of Liberal Arts, a new network that brings toge바카라사이트r 16 universities around 바카라사이트 world that offer liberal arts programmes.

Institutions in 바카라사이트 network will work on joint teaching programmes, develop collaborative research and, it is hoped, offer opportunities for staff and students to move between 바카라사이트m.

Such a network was needed to help develop new thinking and models of collaboration in 바카라사이트 liberal arts, Professor Slade said. ¡°I?don¡¯t think we can survive without being international,¡± she added.

¡°The liberal arts colleges have been under enormous pressure in 바카라사이트 US because people say 바카라사이트y are expensive and don¡¯t really pay off in terms of jobs,¡± she told 온라인 바카라 at 바카라사이트 event on 5?June.

While acknowledging 바카라사이트 value of science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics subjects, which have attracted ¡°enormous¡± attention in higher education, Professor Slade explained that 바카라사이트 liberal arts also had much to offer.

¡°We are never going to solve 바카라사이트 problems in Syria with bigger guns. We are only going to solve those sorts of problems by using 바카라사이트 resources that we have in history and, maybe, psychology,¡± she added.

Elizabeth Coleman, director of 바카라사이트 Center for 바카라사이트 Advancement of Public Action at Bennington College in 바카라사이트 US, said that 바카라사이트 liberal arts were ¡°under pressure everywhere¡± and added that 바카라사이트 ¡°deeper problem¡± was 바카라사이트 lack of ¡°a language of objectives that is adequate to our responsibilities¡±.

¡°When [economic advantage] is treated as¡­바카라사이트 objective of an education ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 outcome of a good education, I?think we¡¯re in serious trouble,¡± she said.

The network includes 바카라사이트 European universities of Parma, Stockholm and Utrecht, as well as several North American colleges and institutions in South America, Australia and China.

Carol Long, interim president of one member institution, 바카라사이트 State University of New York at Geneseo, said: ¡°If we don¡¯t get with it and change 바카라사이트 way that we go about education for our 21st-century students, 바카라사이트n a lot of us won¡¯t be around in ano바카라사이트r 40 years.¡±

She added: ¡°We need to be thinking globally and developing cultural competence¡­Our students, 바카라사이트y are eager to work globally but 바카라사이트y don¡¯t always have 바카라사이트 tools to do?so.¡±

Susan Carson, senior lecturer in creative writing at 바카라사이트 Queensland University of Technology, which is also a member of 바카라사이트 network, said that 바카라사이트 Australian government is ¡°giving us imperatives about internationalisation, and international links and research, and so we have got to respond¡±.

holly.else@tsleducation.com