The value of contemporary higher education

Contemporary higher education has often been in the spotlight in the debate as to whether to prioritize career advancement or impart life-long value. Higher education in many institutions has hung in this tight balance requiring college students themselves curve their path depending on their priorities. Most people pursue college education with the ambition of obtaining a degree and subsequently securing themselves a place in the job market. However, preparation for the real world is just as crucial. Higher education is structured in a way that it strikes the balance between offering technical knowledge and advanced life skills. However, most people have often prioritized career skills at the expense of the very crucial life skills that are earned in modern centers of higher education.
Life skills have greater importance compared to career competencies. Times are changing very rapidly. Moreover, as the modern world gets immersed into advanced technology and innovations, it is only necessary that one thinks outside the box. Concentrating on gaining a meaningful life comes just handy in such an environment. The objective of higher learning should be to produce holistic students who are fully equipped to venture into a world of uncertainty. Currently, the world only appreciates individuals who are ready to be innovative with new ideas on how to deal with numerous world challenges.
Higher education needs to be valued based on how efficiently it seeks to impart critical abilities to those that enroll in it.

This is necessary to enable one to thrive not only today but also several decades to come. There is dire need to reject calls to try and monetize higher education. The goal of college education should be to validate that their students are equipped with the abilities to enable them to fulfill their individual destinies after college. Such destinies must not follow the historic trends of career seeking rather; college education should allow one to be creative in trying to empower their livelihoods.
Any ambitious student should avoid buying into the misguided illusion of narrowing the aim to a particular salary or job after college. The 21st century is transforming at a puzzling rate. The opportunities and jobs available today will probably not be available in the next one decade or so. However, personal skills acquired from higher education will enable one to thrive for the next century due to the knowledge that lets one navigate the ever changing tides.