The Primary Mission of Colleges and Universities is Preparing Students for the Workforce - Essay Example

? The Role of College and Education Task: The Role of college and Education There is a contemporary debate on what should entail the primary focus of college and university education. The question as to what should be the greatest objective of higher education forms the central concern in the discussion. Critics highlight concerns over the failure of higher education of equip graduates with contemporary skills that improve their productivity. According to critics, the objective of college education should extend beyond the mere provision of education to prepare students for the workforce. Traditional higher education systems, for instance, show failure in integrating career development in students (Stone & Lewis, 2012). In response to such criticisms, counter arguments tend to point at an inclusive college education system that fully integrates all the requirements for the fulfillment of educational needs of students. In as much as critics point at several instances of failure of the college education system to provide college graduates with all the necessary skills, their argument is fallacious. Instead, nearly every higher education system is effective in providing students with the necessary skills that prepare them to undertake their professional roles efficiently and successfully. Higher education is a platform that provides complementary skills alongside the primary role of career nurturing. Brockbank and McGill (2007), provide an extensive evaluation of the role of higher education, while citing the necessity to ensure quality and comprehensiveness. College education plays a vital role in civilization by boosting the social class of society members and their economic productivity. The goals of education are diverse and of plausible benefits that are inevitable. Education forms a vital part in the promotion of civilization and enhancing development. It is also instrumental in the integration of a society’s culture. The level of development in many societies varies according to the extent of investment in education. College and university education aim to provide students with the competitive ability to cope with the demands of life. These include the ability to earn income and support their living even during demanding situations. In the contemporary systems of education, it is incontrovertible that college education has a major aim of preparing students for the workforce. The most certain role of college education in the apparent system is to anchor their professional specialization. It is observable that most students nurture the outstanding motivation of achieving success after graduation and settling in their areas of specialization. Critics cite the necessity to reform the education system to fit other needs of the society by providing complementary life skills. Graduates from colleges serve a commendable population of people including critical concerns as health. Most graduates from colleges have the mandate to help solve or revert serious challenges in the world as the economic crisis. Issues as climate change also need the attention of graduates from colleges and universities. College and university education, therefore, has critical and central contribution in addressing the various concerns of the world. The value of education provided to college students determines their competence level. It also determines how they address the various concerns facing the world. The extensive nature of the application and importance of professions that college students specialize in renders it prudent to ensure quality education. The role of complementary life skills in enhancing the productivity of college students in their areas of specialization is appreciable. There is the necessity for college students to engage in innovative ideas to boost their productivity as part of the workforce. College education, therefore, should enhance the integration of contemporary life skills to improve the quality service provided by the workforce. The competence of college graduates in their professions and areas of specialization is dependent on the contemporary life skills that they acquire. A course on international relations, for instance, should embrace the appreciation of life skills as proper negotiations and dialogue. By embracing such skills as negotiations, college education prepares students to fit in the workforce. College education also enhances students with vital skills as communication that is essential for many professionals. Managers, for instance, require efficient communication skills for coordination of organizations’ activities. This is a great contribution in preparing students to deliver quality service in their professions. It is admissible that college education contributes immensely towards the provision of life solutions. Intensive training that is interdisciplinary, and driven towards meeting the demands of the world population is instrumental in solving life challenges. Colleges provide education that holds the dedication towards preparing students to take up the challenge of satisfying the demands of the world population. Higher education, therefore, is necessary in driving novel solutions for the society by preparing students to nurture skills that would offer resolutions to upcoming challenges to the world. In achieving the diverse goals of education provided to college students, novelty is of extensive importance. The social aspects and interaction among college students also prepare them for the workforce. It is incontrovertible that a conceivable number of colleges consist of diversity in the population of students. According to Altbach, Reisberg and Rumbley (2010), there are critical revolutions in the education sector that continue to enhance inclusiveness in higher education. Diversity among college students is extensive. Racial diversity is evident in most colleges. Students also show diversity in talents. One indisputable fact is that the interaction among students from diverse backgrounds and cultures renders the system effective in preparing students for the workforce. Addressing the challenges on of diversity in workplaces, and among the workforce is a key achievement that college education has. It is essential to note that college students pursuing managerial courses need the knowledge on addressing the different matters that pertain to diversity. The social aspect of college life, therefore, is an effective platform that prepares students for the workforce. Most institutions of higher learning are effective in their contribution towards preparing students through approaches that put emphasis on high performance (Middaugh, 2009). There are diverse programs that aim to regulate and assess the effectiveness of college and university education in most countries, today. It is convincing that college education satisfies the needs of students to nurture that demands of their professions and practicality of life. Criticisms towards the success of college education are equally important and need attention. They present challenges to the system that highlight the obligation to improve on college education systems towards attaining a productive workforce. Current education systems, however, are adequate and successful in their role of preparing students for the primary role of professionalism. References Altbach, P. G., Reisberg, L., & Rumbley, L. E. (2010). Trends in global higher education: Tracking an academic revolution. Paris: UNESCO Publishers. Brockbank, A., & McGill, I. (2007). Facilitating reflective learning in higher education. New York, NY: Open University Press. Middaugh, M. (2009). Planning and assessment in higher education: Demonstrating institutional effectiveness. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Stone, & Lewis, M. (2012). College and Career Ready in the 21st Century: Making High School Matter. New York, NY: Teachers College Press. Read More