| | 8 APRIL 2024HIGHERReviewEvery year, around 10 lakh candidates attempt the exams to get into the prestigious IITs. The number of seats for these universities totals around 17,000. The UPSC exams for the coveted position of an IAS officer are also attempted by the same number of candidates. However, only 180 people can secure this position annually, and the rate of admittance here is minuscule, 0.2percent. Meanwhile, liberal arts courses barely make headlines like this. The increasing headways made by the STEM field have made people wonder if there is any value in pursuing a degree in an artistic field. Does having a degree in a holistic course make it difficult to have a career? Are there employment opportunities in these unheard fields? Here, we attempt to formulate a discourse formulated by expert opinions on why education in liberal arts is needed now more than ever.A Holistic Approach to EducationAt its core, liberal arts education is grounded in the pursuit of knowledge across a broad spectrum of disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and the arts. This interdisciplinary approach fosters critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability, skills that are essential in the face of rapid technological change.In a world increasingly dominated by specialized expertise, the ability to think critically and approach problems from multiple perspectives is invaluable. While STEM disciplines provide essential technical skills, they THE ROLE OF LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION IN A TECH-DRIVEN WORLDFOCAL POINT
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