New Books in Higher Education Kathryn Telling, "The Liberal Arts Paradox in Higher Education: Negotiating Inclusion and Prestige" (Policy Press, 2023)
Apr 27, 2024
Dr. Kathryn Telling, a lecturer in education at the University of Manchester, discusses the rise of liberal arts degrees in England, exploring issues of interdisciplinarity, institutional status, employability, and inequality in higher education. The podcast delves into the complexities and paradoxes associated with liberal arts education, including the influence of cosmopolitanism on universities and the societal expectations surrounding this educational path.
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Liberal Arts Reveal Higher Ed Paradoxes
- Higher education in England faces paradoxes due to marketization and elitism critiques.
- Liberal arts degrees provide a rich case to explore these complex tensions and institutional dilemmas.
Liberal Arts Definition Ambiguity
- Liberal arts definitions are broad and sometimes contradictory, embracing interdisciplinarity and non-vocational learning.
- In England, liberal arts degrees require students to study at least two subjects without vocational focus, but the term adapts to various institutional aims.
Contradictions in Liberal Arts Purpose
- University leaders often hold contradictory views on liberal arts: as vocational training and as education for its own sake.
- Low student recruitment paradoxically leads to closures despite initial institutional enthusiasm.