If you were at University Day, you may have seen the presentation To Renew or Not Renew. Those who missed it missed learning about the stance on modern education. Belen Dougherty, Kacie Chapman, Jacob Swain and Eleanor Goheen taught us to ask important questions such as, “What are institutions bringing to the communities?” and “Skills that are valued are changing. How can higher education change with it?” These questions are designed to reflect on the state of higher education. To renew education can mean a couple of different things “I was researching to renew education in America. I was asked if I was thinking renewal to be going back to its roots or renewing as making anew.”
Presenting: To Renew or Not Renew
Throughout history, the education system has proven to be important and highly valued. “Not only for economic gain but also for the social and the constructive democracy in this country.” This value in education does not hold the same weight that it did in history to the present day. “I had a lot of people telling me, ‘You don’t need to go to college to get the job. You can just get the job. You don’t need to gain access to the skills because we already have the opportunity to make money without that,’” Belen said, “Why are we choosing higher education? Is it for the good life to live because you’re gaining knowledge and gaining social capital? Or is it for that piece of paper and to get a job?”
As a group, the presenters were unanimous in the belief that education is more than just a degree. “We are not here for the degree. We are here for what we get out of it for the rest of our lives…. To think, question and challenge,” Jacob said.
The presentation concluded with the idea that value needs to be brought back to education. Because of this, the ideal overall answer would be to renew education to reflect learning more so than the future jobs that we are led to.
