What Does Society Need From Higher Education?

Robert H. Atwell

Robert H. Atwell disagrees with the view that university research should be the source of scientific
advances and the development of technology that make the society improved. He lists the things what
society wants and needs from higher education and explains the teaching of values, the academy as an
independent critique of society, and higher education as an agent of social change. These are valuable
because according to Atwell, if the higher education does not meet these factors, it would undermine
the democratic society. He also touches on the fact that higher education can make effects on the
democratic society. The differences between higher education and vocational training is the
communication of set values, including acceptance, understanding, a love of learning, and a devotion to
free inquiry and free expression. Atwell also says that liberal learning is expansive and inclusive. The
information around us is increasing and coming in many forms. Without knowing the values of the
things that is essential for us to know, it is impossible for society to solve political and economic and
humanely problems. The job for CSUs and UCs is to prepare students to be citizens who can make wise
decisions and practice leadership. Citizenship requires participation in a society often called service.
This concept of citizenship is the basis for President Clintons national program which has had great
responses from the youth generations. Universities can be very flawed as according to David Bok, UCs
arent as responsive to what society needs as to what society chooses to pay for. And Atwell believes
that there should be more encouragement towards the faculty members and students to use the
resources provided on campus to acknowledge the needs of society. Academic leaders, faculty
members, and students can make an impact far from the boundaries of campus and it needs to be
recognized and acted on by campuses. This can help improve the society. Through internal and external
activities, Colleges and UCs become agents of social change. Atwell uses diversity and
internationalization as examples. By making campuses become internal and welcoming to minorities
such as women and other historically neglected groups, we produce change within and outside the
institution. Bringing out the study of foreign languages and cultures, stronger international connections
and promotion of increased student exchange changes the campus and the broader society.\

David R. Pierce

Pierce mentions six factors the society needs and believes higher education should meet. Higher
education can act as a resource although it may not solve all the problems in society. Higher education
must train a skilled, intelligent, and responsible workforce, transmit an extend the arts and humanities
and other aspects of living culture. It must also support a citizenship that encourages responsibility in
the community and be a resource for people searching for ideas and information on solving social,
economic, and political to scientific problems. For the society to increase in complexity, workers must
be skilled and that number should be increased. As society changes and progresses, skills will continue
to change and workers will start learning new sets of skills. Pierce advises for resources to gather and
analyze and tech. advances to require workers to be advanced in fields such as mathematics,
engineering and technology. Higher education will evolve as we as an economy continues to evolve.
He also states that preparing people for work gives them the means to live. VAPA, literature and
History all have merit aside from their usefulness in helping people with work and solving problems.
Higher education must help strengthen students. He says that it is necessary for campuses to sustain a
living culture. Since our society requires us to participate in our government, we as citizens need to be
aware of the needs and problems of the community so our government can be based on intelligence,
compassion, and ethics. To maintain an coherent and peaceful society, we must learn to understand
and accept each other. As this world is getting more and more diverse, the world is getting smaller. The
goal is to be a respectful society. Higher education can provide resources to solve many problems and
these resources are valuable. Lifelong learning will make this society better. There are many barriers to
continue learning such as financial restraints, age, gender, or race discrimination.