Why Liberal arts is the degree young is India talking about – India Today

One of the biggest challenges and dilemmas a student faces while growing up is understanding what theyre good at, where their heart lies, and what is an ideal career path for them. At We The Young, a youth content and education platform, we extensively interact with youngsters and hear their thoughts and stories around different issues that matter to them from their career, sexuality, and mental health to their aspirations, opinions, and relationships.

One factor that constantly comes up during these interactions is that students are yearning for something more when it comes to their education and opportunities. Apart from wanting more inclusive and vast employment opportunities, they also want to learn concepts, subjects, and themes that go beyond dated curriculums.

A twelfth-grade student from Pune said, I think its difficult to tell which stream my interest lies in. We, as humans, are not mechanical beings and thus compartmentalising our interests and opportunities limits our potential and growth.

It is clear that this is a new generation - one that is not settling for anything less than what they deserve and is fuelled by limitless dreams. This is a new age, and it needs a new curriculum- one thats inclusive, interdisciplinary, and holistic in its approach. How cool would it be if theyre able to combine their multiple passions together and get a degree that helps them explore all these options while building a holistic learning experience at the same time?

Liberal arts education, degrees, courses, and communities aim to bridge this gap and give students the liberty and space to explore as they learn and create new avenues for themselves. In simple terms, liberal arts education allows a student to go beyond watertight categories of science, commerce, humanities, and social sciences and instead, pick a combination of subjects and interest areas that might be cross-cutting through these disciplines.

Exploring the interdisciplinary nature of various subjects across academic streams is at the core of liberal arts. While this form of learning has been central to the western education system for a while now, India has also started taking conscious steps in this direction. In fact, the New Education Policy announced in 2020 also extensively focuses on a multi-disciplinary approach to learning.

Now addressing a key question that is bound to arise: what is the future of liberal arts in India? Is it really a game-changer in the field of education? What career options do students have after getting a liberal arts degree? The possibilities are limitless. Pursuing a liberal arts degree gives young minds the freedom to pick from a diverse range of fields or perhaps, invent something new of their own.

Students often struggle to make a decision about what field they want to go for early on in their school years but with the flexibility that a liberal arts degree offers, they get more exposure, time, and opportunities to explore and then make an informed decision. Some top spaces in which students with a liberal arts background contribute include public policy, social and development sector, global diplomacy, social sciences, journalism, and content creation.

Liberal arts is the future of education. It is the face of change in India and in the world. It opens a door of opportunities for young minds in a way that no other form of education does. It truly reinforces the idea that the future is young and we, as youngsters, have the power to be limitless.

So for all the curious youngsters who are confused about whats the right career path for them, are passionate about becoming a changemaker, and are looking to explore liberal arts space, take the plunge! This is the right time and age for it; a world of opportunities awaits you.

Article by Charit Jaggi, founder of We The Young.

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Why Liberal arts is the degree young is India talking about - India Today