What’s the ultimate purpose of university education? Why do we invest our time and money in intellectual pursuits? Every September, we return to our classrooms and lecture halls, energized for the new school year and determined to make it our best one yet. Amid all the goal-setting and prioritizing, though, we often forget the big-picture questions.
Is the primary goal of education to shape the future citizens and leaders of our democratic societies? Author George Fallis compellingly illustrates how universities have long played an important role in protecting democratic ideals in his book Multiversities, Ideas, and Democracy, newly released in paperback. But will the academy continue to play this role as universities evolve into sprawling research complexes?
Hold on, you say. Shouldn’t the academy also expand our boundaries as individuals, teach us to challenge our assumptions, and help us learn to think critically? To James E. Côté and Anton L. Allahar, this is increasingly not the case: as they argue in Lowering Higher Education, universities are positioning the liberal arts and science less as a path for self-exploration, and more as a form of job training. As the authors show, this perspective has led to inflated grades, lowered standards, and widespread student disengagement.
But if universities are becoming more vocationally focused, why do new graduates continue to have a tough time finding steady jobs? According to the Globe and Mail, the youth unemployment rate in Ontario currently stands at a whopping 15%. Why are young adults having such trouble connecting their education with relevant employment? The collection Education and Jobs provides a thorough exploration of this ongoing problem.
Though our opinions may diverge about the ultimate purpose of universities, surely you agree that they should be inclusive, safe spaces for all? However, despite mission statements and recruitment campaigns that emphasize diversity, various forms of racism and Eurocentrism persist within the academy. As noted by Joy Mighty of Queen’s University, the UTP book Racism in the Canadian University ‘exposes and critiques the prevalence of institutional racism in Canadian universities and the equally prevalent denial of its existence.’
What are your goals for this school year? What perspective will you be taking on the primary purpose of education? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
