The Purpose of Higher Education Definition Argument Essay

by awesomepostsssyahoocom (student)

AS and A Level English

Lepon

Paula Lepon

Jason Elznic

English Composition I

21 June 2022

The Purpose of Higher Education

The purpose of higher education can be numbered down on a list, but its main role is to meet the social and cultural factors, as well as to fulfill the developmental needs of a country. Higher education allows an individual to reach their full potential mentally and professionally. Colleges and universities around the world offer programs that expand from the subjects of health to politics, creating a skilled workforce in a society. Higher education can open doors of opportunities for everyone because it could improve economic prosperity, encourage civic participation, and develop self-actualization behavior.

First, higher education is the infrastructure that helps the economy prosper. Up until the twentieth century, higher education was only available to the elites. This seclusion of education created inequality between social classes, and only a few members of society prospered. This all changed “at the beginning of the 20th century, higher education had progressively become available to the masses” (Bonini 2). The availability of higher education that became easily accessible to nearly every person had a major influence to becoming valuable members of society. This led to individuals contributing more to their communities than ever before. These communities evolved into “thinking communities,” where inequality is slim and focuses to “tackle global dilemmas, have collaboration across different fields… willingness to serve the common good and humankind” (Bonini 6). As more people find their purpose through higher education, the more likely they are able to contribute to society. This domino effect leads to a prosperous economy where an individual applies their knowledge for the benefit of others. The purpose of higher education is not only to form a supportable prosperous future, but to also actively commit to the structure of it (Bonini 9). The role of education in economic development is crucial because growth would be impossible without good education. Higher education serves a purpose to grow the economy, increase productivity, and produce income for each individual.

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Second, higher education has been correlated to civic participation. Civic participation is the contribution of an individual to society, such as voting, volunteering, and engaging in group and community activities. In a research called “Higher Education’s Democratic Mission” by Thomas and Levine, higher institutions have been claiming that a primary purpose of higher education is to prepare young people to be responsible and informed citizens (Thomas and Levine 154). They refer to the famous quote Thomas Jefferson once stated: “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.” This is the basic principle of accountability in a democratic government. The relationship between higher education and democracy was also described by Robert M. Hutchins. He believed that the advancement of a democratic community depends upon the combined intelligence of all citizens (Thomas and Levine 154). Furthermore, the overall impact of college education is shown through a survey on civic skills and engagement in this research. The answers have shown that “college graduates are more involved than community-college graduates, who are more active than non-college graduates” (Thomas and Levine 155). “One in four young Americans who had attended college voted in the 2008 presidential election, but those young people who had no college experience voted at a rate of only about one in fourteen” (Thomas and Levine 155). “College graduates are also most active in community service” (Thomas and Levine 155). College attendance is linked to civic participation through students learning about democracy in college. Thomas and Levine highlight the purpose of higher education in a democracy by explaining how it is the solution and a public good for the people. Higher education greatly impacts a democratic nation’s civic, social, economic, and moral matters.

Third, pursuing higher education expands an individual’s self-actualization behavior. Self-actualization is simply defined as the highest point in psychological development in which an individual reaches their full capability. This can be referred to in various ways. “Self-actualization refers to the highest form of psychological health; the development of one’s true self, the development of one’s existing or latent potential” (Cangemi 151). In Cangemi’s study at Western Kentucky University, students and faculty were all in agreement with self-actualization as the purpose of higher education. He defined the behavior even further as “fully functioning, fully human, the development of one’s fullest capacities, being, self-fulfillment, self-development, and full valued personality” (Cangemi 151). The results showed that most of the participants were pursuing higher education to help them become more creative, develop intelligent career plans, develop better judgment and wisdom, and numerous other intentions that aimed to the growth of one’s potential. For this reason, higher institutions need to reevaluate their missions to establish their position in the process of self-actualization. The definite purpose of higher education is to help individuals fulfill their potentialities, becoming fully-functioning, independent, career-oriented, and intelligent members of society.

In conclusion, the importance of higher education has been linked to economic success, public service to society, and the fulfillment of an individual’s psychological development. This entices a member of society to search for their purpose in life. In this search of oneself through the use of higher education, an individual acquires their full mental potential and professional abilities. These abilities positively influence the actions of others, creating a society where pursuing higher education is the stepping stone to a better life.

Works Cited

Bonini, Paola. “When Tomorrow Comes: Technology and the Future of Sustainability Learning in Higher Education.” Environment, vol. 62, no. 4, July 2020, pp. 39–48. EBSCOhost, . Accessed 21 June 2022.

Cangemi, Joseph P. “The Real Purpose of Higher Education: Developing Self-Actualizing Personalities.” Education, vol. 105, no. 2, Winter 1984, p. 151. EBSCOhost, . Accessed 21 June 2022.

Thomas, Nancy and Peter Levine. To Serve a Larger Purpose: Engagement for Democracy and the Transformation of Higher Education. Temple University Press, 2011. EBSCOhost, . Accessed 21 June 2022.