Enhancing Global Higher Education: Rethinking the Liberal Arts Encounter in the Contemporary Age

Abstract

The main cause of dissatisfaction with undergraduate education appears to be the rise in research output, as indicated by global rankings and observations. Nevertheless, obtaining a college degree will consistently be highly esteemed and serve as the primary objective and foundation. As a result, there has been a rise in the inclination towards diversity and a focus on achieving global excellence in teaching and education within the framework of a "world-class university." The worldwide discourse on greatness now include a renewed emphasis on liberal arts education. This essay seeks to elucidate the perceived suitability of liberal arts education as a pathway to reaching excellence in the twenty-first century, considering the resurgence of liberal arts education in various geographical areas. This paper examines the fundamental concepts and justifications for incorporating liberal arts education into formal curricula, utilising the theoretical frameworks of epistemology, economics, and social ethics. This study investigates the significance of citizenship, broad skills, and interdisciplinary approaches in various geographical settings. There is a general consensus that a liberal arts education is not a panacea for all problems, and that one must overcome several obstacles in order to develop a fully comprehensive perspective on a global scale.
Keywords: Broad range of arts and studies, Excellence, Undergraduate education, Curriculum, Cross-disciplinary learning, Skills, and Citizenship