Liberal Arts Is Creating Solid Foundation For Future Global Leaders

Santosh Kudtarkar Oct 25, 2017

Liberal Arts education believes in educating students for life by giving them the fundamental tools and techniques, borrowed from multiple disciplines that can be used in any stream of human endeavor. Students have the opportunity to engage in academic programs across related areas, which is not always possible in the traditional higher education system.

Liberal Arts education hones the ability to think critically and effectively. It enables intellectual growth by application of these skills to examine, analyze and synthesize information obtained from multiple sources and demands that every issue or problem be analyzed in the context of inter-disciplinary perspectives. It provides exposure to all aspects of human knowledge and affords an opportunity to make relatively in-depth study across subjects.

The ability to communicate clearly and effectively through writing and speaking is essential for success and an integral part of liberal education. It goes beyond intellectual achievement and seeks to inculcate the values of good citizenship and to realize the potential of the individual. It aims to nurture sensitive, informed, ethical, and responsible global citizens who use knowledge to bring about positive change in society. It is transformative in its approach with its focus on leading a life of fulfillment and direction and provides opportunities for the practice of leadership.

To sum up, with its focus on the cultivation of habits of learning, thinking, communication and good citizenship, liberal education seeks to hedge the danger of the irrelevancy of conventional education to address the problems of the future and provides a framework for success in career and happiness in life.

The diversity and choice of subjects and fields that a student can absorb in Liberal Arts education, gives them very broad perspectives of the world and society at large. These broadened perspectives and global understanding of issues, equips students with much deeper understanding and perspective to deal with geopolitical, economic and social challenges.

Leaders are lifelong learners, the ones who seek ‘perfection’ while remaining connected to the greater good. Leaders are people who understand who they really are, aspire towards perfection and inspire good in others. Leaders become teachers, taking time to help and empower others to become leaders themselves.

Liberal Arts education instills these qualities and puts students in a better position to take on challenges of the world. It gives the students a sense of global ownership that pushes them to strive harder and motivate others to do the same to achieve the greater good.

Such comprehensive, in-depth and broad grounding in subjects across social sciences and humanities in addition to natural and physical sciences goes a long way in helping students and future leaders imbibe the nuances of a complex society so that when they grow up they are far better equipped to deal with issues that confront them as leaders of the free world.