Should universities prioritize vocational training over liberal arts?
Should public universities prioritize vocational training over traditional liberal arts degrees? As someone who advises high schoolers on college choices, I've seen the job market reward practical skills like nursing or computer science, but I also worry that dropping philosophy or history leaves graduates unprepared for critical thinking. Tuition keeps rising, and parents want returns, yet a 2019 survey showed 60% of employers still value broad problem-solving over specific majors. Maybe the answer isn't either-or, but rather integrating skills into existing programs—does that satisfy both sides, or does it water down education?