The ART in a Liberal Arts Education: Employee Skill Sets Gained
We no longer live and work in a conventional world. As business leaders
and employers, we know too well how important it is to retain current
staff and recruit new employees who deviate from the conventional thinking
model. Now, more than ever, our employees must possess creative thinking
skills and problem-solving capabilities to sustain our business in today's
turbulent environment.
Whether one works as an executive or at entry level, the work environment
now demands broadened mindsets and qualifications for diverse positions.
The changing workforce, recent economic downturn and changing demographics
are all contributors to this paradigm shift. Technical and specialized
skills, honed to an art today, may indeed become obsolete in the near
future.
Furthermore, traditional degrees become outdated and even irrelevant
in the modern workforce. It is essential that employees continue to
expand their current knowledge base and skill sets to add personal value
in their organizations. A liberal arts degree does just that, in addition
to preparing the student for continued growth and life-long learning.
Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina states that her two majors—medieval
history and philosophy—serve her well on the job in the digital awakening.
Walt Disney CEO Michael Eisner never took a single business course.
He received a double major in English and theater and nudged his three
sons into liberal arts. In fact, many Fortune 500 CEOs have earned MBAs,
but undergraduate degrees among all the CEOs vary widely, including
15 percent in the liberal arts.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the
top 10 qualities employers seek in job candidates are communication
skills, motivation, initiative, teamwork, leadership, academic achievement,
interpersonal skills, flexibility, technical skills, honesty and integrity
and analytical problem-solving skills. Liberal arts education has been
proven to enhance interpersonal skills, communication skills, adaptability
to change, critical and analytical thinking and problem solving.
Responding to the needs of mid-Missouri employers and employees—needs
that echo national trends—the University of Missouri-Columbia (UMC)
now offers its first campuswide evening degree program, the bachelor
of general studies (BGS).
Developed with adult students in mind, the BGS program is designed
for individuals who want to tailor course choices to meet their own
professional goals and personal interests. To complement "the basics,"
students select three component areas that address their learning needs,
reflecting the liberal arts standard. Students may transfer previous
college credits to their selected component areas, working closely with
advisers to avoid unnecessary course work and ensure timely advancement
through the program.
Component area choices offered in the evenings are business, communication,
information technology and the humanities. The electives, including
courses in contemporary issues, also cover topics of interest to adult
learners.
As Albert Einstein said, "The problems that exist in the world
today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them."
As your business changes, your employees too must be equipped for change
and growth.
For more information on MU's bachelor of general studies program and
how it may benefit your company and employees, contact MU Extension
toll-free at 1-800-919-5651 or E-mail: maullerg@missouri.edu.
Send this article to a friend
Authored by: Gina Mauller, Business & Government
Educational Development, MU Extension
Source: Creating Quality Newsletter, Volume
11, Number 12, December 2002
go
back
Newsletter archives: 2004
| 2003
| 2002
| 2001
