Preparing students to compete in the global economy

by Peter Cole

In reply to Ben Brown’s response to my earlier letter:

I have an associates degree in liberal arts. So I definitely know what a liberal arts education entails. I am saying that the role of liberal arts education as formation is excellent and important for preserving the fundamental beliefs and principles which should be so much a part of our lives but sadly are not.

My position was and is that our education needs to have some practical application to it. That is, when graduation time comes we have to be ready compete in the global economy and be prepared to defend the Gospel. We are going to have difficulty defending the Gospel without practical training.

The core curriculum task force is looking at ways to have both liberal arts study with necessary applications as computer training, resume and cover letter writing. They are talking about ways to do this so our students will be both educated and trained. Franciscan University is both a liberal arts school and a school of professional programs.

It is academically irresponsible for someone not to take courses and/or workshops on computer literacy, resume writing, and how to do a job interview. Education for its own purpose is good when it is integrated with practical applications.

Peter Cole, MA Education program

issue cover

Related articles:

Same issue

The importance of engaging questions about our campus culture, Mark Fischer Professionalism—primary or secondary?, Susan Hunt The Nature, Purpose and Value of Public Discourse, Franciscan University Student Forum Prize announcements, the editors The will and the intellect are inseparable, Martha L. Blandford Preparing students to compete in the global economy, Peter Cole Education not limited to the mind, Susan C. Fischer According to the Tradition, education aims beyond the intellect, Matthew Fish Happy & sad, Kathleen van Schaijik Oxford gaining on Shakspere, Kathleen van Schaijik Of private and collegiate morality, Kathleen van Schaijik Newman, education and context, Kathleen van Schaijik Witnesses to Faith in the face of death, Kathleen van Schaijik Viva the class of ‘99!, Kathleen van Schaijik A prize winning physicist out of his depth, Kathleen van Schaijik A positive psychology, Kathleen van Schaijik How to become a leader, Kathleen van Schaijik Campus politics, Kathleen van Schaijik Thanksgiving, Kathleen van Schaijik

Same topic: core curriculum

I,1 Shouldn’t we have a real core curriculum at Franciscan University?, John F. Crosby I,2 What is a ‘real’ Catholic education?, Kathleen van Schaijik I,2 Core curriculum (1), R.J. Convery I,2 Core curriculum (2), Jim Fox I,3 Core curriculum (3), Katherine Kemmis I,4 Core curriculum and anti-intellectualism, Adam Tate I,5 Core curriculum and critical thinking, Joseph A. Loizzo I,6 Core curriculum (4), Regis Martin I,7 Making ‘the connection’: A Steubenville education, Regina Schmiedicke I,7 A defense of a diversified core, Mark Fischer II,1 In reply to Mark Fischer’s defense of the present core curriculum, John F. Crosby II,2 More on the curriculum debate, Mark Fischer II,3 Last words on the core, John F. Crosby IV,4 What liberal educators may not omit, Regis Martin IV,5 Dr. Martin does it again, Joanna K. M. Bratten IV,5 FUS needs to get more practical about education, Peter Cole IV,5 Why non-liberal majors need a liberal core, Susan C. Fischer IV,6 The real purpose of liberal education, Ben Brown IV,7 The will and the intellect are inseparable, Martha L. Blandford IV,7 Education not limited to the mind, Susan C. Fischer IV,7 According to the Tradition, education aims beyond the intellect, Matthew Fish V,1 More on the aim of education: Ben Brown replies to his critics, Ben Brown V,2 Preparing FUS graduates for the modern world, Jason Negri V,3 Liberal arts and professional programs: a reply to Jason Negri, Ben Brown V,3 Let’s improve our stats, Sofia Genato V,3 The ideal of perfecting the mind is timeless, Michael Houser V,3 Cultivating the intellect, Anne Schmiesing V,5 The eternally practical liberal arts, Timothy J. Williams V,5 Computers and liberal learning, Ben Brown V,6 Liberal arts with professional training: the best of both worlds, Thomas E. Kelly V,7 Education is not primarily about preparing to evangelize in the workplace, Ben Brown V,7 The God gap in the workplaces of the world, Peter Cole V,8 Arrogant idealism, Jason Negri IV,7 Newman, education and context, Kathleen van Schaijik

Same author