A Discussion about University Education

In the midst of financial turmoil and massive layoffs, it is understandable that the majority of university students think of their future job security as a pressing priority. Accordingly, they tend to regard universities primarily as institutions where employment skills can be acquired. This is especially true when we consider the fact that the cost of tuition and fees has been rising each year, which means to many, pursuing higher education is very much like making a substantial investment. Thus, university students and their parents alike tend to expect reasonable rates of return that can be, to some degree, quantified by the job skills students possess. Still, I wish to point out that merely equipping students with employment skills may defeat the very purpose of university as educational institutions. Realistically, it would be very hard for university administrators and faculty to determine what technical skills and knowledge will be needed three or four years from now as technology in many areas is updating itself on a daily basis. What will also be at risk is the students' capability to innovate because true innovations require thorough understanding of fundamental theories in the related fields rather than the ability to apply these theories in the workplace, which is exactly how we define the employment skill. The main function of universities, therefore, should be building core curricula that stress the fostering of employment skills while at the same time, providing students with electives on the theoretical aspects of their fields of interest, which not only facilitates their grasp of job skills but ensures their capacity to apply these skills innovatively as well.