Some people think that universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace.

Others think that the true function of a university should be to give access to knowledge for its own sake, regardless of whether the course is useful to an employer.  

What do you think?

ANSWER:

There is a tendency these days that many university graduates have difficulty in finding a decent job, because the subjects they learn at university such as history and archeology are not favored by employers. Therefore, some people argue that it is university’s obligation to equip to their students with the knowledge and skills that are in great demand in the job market. As far as I am concerned, this view is too short-sighted in terms of concerning the fundamental functions of universities. Universities should provide learners with a wide variety of subjects for them to select, regardless of whether the subjects are preferred by employers or not.

Universities are founded based on the belief that the existing human achievements in all fields can effectively be passed on to the young generation and the expectation that youngsters can explore more in human thoughts and activities. To serve this purpose, curriculum systems established in universities should cover as many fields as they can, including those job-related ones such as marketing and international trade as well as less job-related ones such as philosophy and politics. It is hard to imagine how our society can keep a balanced development with some of these areas being eliminated.

Of course, it is true that one primary aim for students to enter universities is to get a reasonable career.  Although practical knowledge and skills may provide graduate with more advantages in job hunting, the need to develop areas in our society in a balanced way is obviously more important and more beneficial in the long run.

In conclusion, university should be a paradise for knowledge rather than a job-oriented institution. The major function of universities is to cultivate real talents in all areas of human life. It is only suggested that universities can offer job training programs for graduates who major in theoretical areas or establish close relationships with potential employers in order to aid students finding a job.