Student Learning Versus Student Training: How Higher Education Institutions Reflect Their Values of Student Development in the Curriculum and Cocurricular Life of the Institution

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter was to explore how the values of higher education institutions, and ultimately society, are conveyed through the curriculum of an institution. The arguments for focusing on a liberal education grounded in critical thinking are highlighted and then compared to the growing trend of occupational education being the central focus of a college education. The need to understand populist thinking in particular is aligned with the social responsibility that educational institutions carry in their charters. This means that the students and parents who pay tuition for their education want something to show for their investment, namely a level of compensation and employment that is perceived to be correlated with the expense of the degree. The competing views of education and training are then considered in a global context, noting the interconnectedness of the intellectual and business community around the globe. This chapter concludes by highlighting the importance of education and its impact on cultural understanding and engagement as a value, especially calling upon public policymakers to keep higher education leaders in check as they develop plans and expectations for their institutions.

Citation

Miller, M.T. and Nadler, D.P. (2024), "Student Learning Versus Student Training: How Higher Education Institutions Reflect Their Values of Student Development in the Curriculum and Cocurricular Life of the Institution", Rao, M.B., Singh, A. and Rao, P.M. (Ed.) Worldviews and Values in Higher Education (Global Perspectives on Higher Education Development), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 11-24. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-897-520241002