Column: Liberal arts education can meet today’s complex challenges

The value of higher education in today’s society continues to be debated, despite the fact that outcome data demonstrate its value. College graduates earn more money during their lifetimes, they use less social safety net resources, report better health and a higher quality of life and volunteer more in their communities.

These outcomes all point to the benefit of higher education as an important contributor to the common good. The common good is defined in a variety of ways, but can be summarized as respecting the individual along with their social well-being and by developing groups to work together in pursuit of justice and peace. It is reached when we work together to improve the well-being of people in society and the wider world.

In today’s complex world, it is imperative that higher education provides graduates with the knowledge and skills to solve today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. The question becomes then, what is the best model of higher education to support these goals.

I would surmise that a broad-based liberal arts foundation will provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to meet today’s complex challenges; knowledge of history, philosophy, science and mathematics and aesthetics teach students to think broadly, understand historical context and appreciate the beauty in nature and humanity.

Regardless of discipline, a strong foundation in the liberal arts will influence how one thinks and approaches complex problems. These skills are critically important for all college-graduated — the engineer, historian, business person, nurse and teacher. However, these skills are not enough. All college graduates need strong skills and experiences in working across disciplines, working on diverse teams, communicating clearly (both verbal and written), and real-life experiences in solving complex problems.

Higher education also transforms lives — for the individual, their families and entire communities. Particularly in Hawaii and the South Pacific, we see the impact of a college degree. Take for example the many college graduates who return to their communities to teach children, work in hospitals, form nonprofit organizations that not only provide needed social services but teach resiliency.

Instead of debating the value of a college degree, we should be talking about how to improve access and outcomes for college graduates. What are the programs and support services needed for student success, how do we improve persistence and graduation rates and how do we make sure today’s college graduates have the critical skills necessary for success in the workplace?

We also need to make sure that college students are able to link their learning in the classroom with real life experiences — experiential learning in the form of internships/externships, service learning opportunities and more. Achieving this goal requires partnerships between institutions of higher learning and local business in the community.

We are well-poised here in Hawaii to work together within our community to increase the number of college graduates who have the knowledge and skills needed to solve the complex problems we face. We must all take this challenge seriously and work together.

Lynn Babington, Ph.D., is president of Chaminade University of Honolulu.