4 Ways Liberal Arts Prepare You For A Global Career Landscape

Dr Devanjan Khuntia: The more globalised the world becomes, it is the market economy that has emerged as one of the leading forces shaping global higher education. Universities and colleges are no longer ivory towers but are completely engaged in a demand and supply-driven economy. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there will be a demand for upskilling more than 470 million jobs globally by 2030. This is why more institutions of higher education are modifying their curricula with special emphasis on technical skills, data literacy, and digital fluency that ascertain market relevance.

In countries like Germany and Singapore, the curricula have been designed to churn out graduates into the areas of engineering, healthcare, and information technology that are in huge demand. In doing so, however, there is a risk of losing sight of the ideal intellectual development education should provide.

How The Market Decides Skills Requirements In Formal Sector

Market dynamics dictate the skills deemed essential for workforce participation. Employers analyse trends, technological advancements, and consumer behaviour to determine the competencies they seek in potential hires. For instance, the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report reveals that along with technical skills like AI capability and data analysis, complex problem solving, analytical thinking, and emotional intelligence skills are gaining significance. But these priorities change fast, under the influences of globalisation and rapid technological progress. This means institutions and students face the problem of trying to predict what will be outdated in a decade.

Do Market-Preferred Skills Make Formal Sector Workforce More Active?

The answer is no. On one hand, market preferred skills make people more ready for work. But, on the other hand, it often targets narrowly on short-term, industry specific requirements. This would lead to a highly specialised but unadaptable labour force. An active labour force is one that thinks creatively, innovates, and is able to respond to unexpected challenges, a quality beyond the technical. According to research from McKinsey & Company, companies with diversified skill sets in their employees are more innovative and have a higher long-term sustainability compared to companies with a highly specialized workforce.

Benefits And Drawbacks Of Market-Driven Skill Needs

There are multiple advantages of market governed skills. Firstly, the graduates with market relevant skills easily enter the workforce with preferred salaries. Secondly, market aligned students contribute towards market productivity which helps in larger economic growth. Finally, academia and industry collaboration lead to creation of larger pools of research funding and promotion of innovation.

However, overemphasis on market governance of academia comes with certain drawbacks as well. The excessive focus on market driven skills may lead to a lack of intellectual and emotional development of the student. Besides, regions or demographics with limited access to specific skill-training programs are left behind. Also, markets are prone to skill-demands fluctuations which may lead to skill redundancy and career instability for young workers.

How Liberal Arts Education is Better Suited In Global Career Landscape 

Liberal Arts education, with its interdisciplinary focus, offers a robust alternative to the market-driven approach. By cultivating critical thinking, communication, and adaptability, liberal arts prepare students for a lifetime of learning and reinvention qualities indispensable in today’s volatile global economy.

1. Liberal Arts in the Global Economy

In a report published by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in 2013, 91% of corporate executives acknowledged skills like critical thinking and problem solving as being more important than specific undergraduate majors. This is because liberal arts education, encompassing humanities, sciences, and arts, makes graduates approach problems from a comprehensive perspective.

2. Industry Demand

While technical skills are still significant, corporates are now preferring employees who have mastery over soft skills such as empathy and leadership to manage a team. The liberal arts graduates are proving the ideal candidate to play these leadership roles because they strike a balance between analytical and interpersonal abilities.

3. Cross-Cultural Competence and Global Careers

With the world fast growing into a global village, the modern workplaces require cultural acumen and the ability to interact with multiple perspectives. The sociological and global studies curricula prepare the student to function in multicultural teams and work within an international environment.

4. Breaking Stereotypes

A common myth is that Liberal Arts lacks ‘practicality’. However, alumni from Liberal Arts programmes occupy leadership roles in industries ranging from tech to finance. For instance, Howard Schultz, former CEO of StarBucks; Susan Wojcicki, former CEO of Youtube; Reed Hastings, Founder of Netflix; Michael Eisner, former CEO of Walt Disney Company; Ken Chenault, former CEO of American Express; Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett Packard — all have their education in Liberal Arts. 

Policymakers and education administrators need to take the initiative to include Liberal Arts in the mainstream curriculum. Programmes that integrate STEM with humanities can be a way of creating a more adaptive workforce. Besides, government and industry stakeholders need to fund Liberal Arts initiatives to ensure equal access and societal recognition of their value.

Dr Devanjan Khuntia is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Alliance University, Bengaluru.

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