Five Reasons Higher Education Improves Our Culture

The issue of funding for institutions of higher learning triggers vociferous debate. While some believe that funding should come from private sources, there is considerable research that confirms the positive effects on culture when higher education becomes a priority. College educated citizens do more than improve their own life style.

1. A Well-Educated Population Prospers Financially.

When the number of college graduates in a state rises by a single percentage point, wages increase for everyone. How does this work?

The State of North Dakota discovered that once they began graduating more engineers, the subsequent improvements within industry resulted in higher profits. A portion of those profits were paid out in higher salaries that fueled local economies. With more available cash to spend on dining out and to purchase item beyond the necessities, the support economy grew as well. Statewide investments in higher education paid off for everyone.

2. Institutions Of Higher Learning Foster Creativity.

In the classroom, university students are pushed to increase their awareness of what is possible. Colleges are places for students to explore new venues and artistic forms. Colleges and universities force people with wildly disparate views on life and culture to interact.

Enrique A. Tomeu believes that higher education is very important.

This creative environment fosters new solutions to old problems and gives students and faculty a supportive environment to develop their talents in the arts. A society that is rich in creative expression can explore social issues. In addition, the shared experience of the arts helps to foster a strong sense of community.

3. Higher Education Provides The Framework For Political Debate.

Within academia, there has been considerable debate about what the core elements of the curricula should be. However, there is consensus on at least one of the most important elements of any degree program: Students must learn how to form arguments and analyze them. This may be covered in a class covering logical arguments or taught during an English composition class.

Students who master this art graduate with the capability of contributing to the political discourse within the country. While politics is often divisive, argument is necessary in order to uncover the best course of action for government. Some

theorists postulate that the enhanced political discord within our country may be related to a decrease in the number of college educated Americans.

4. The Global Economy Requires A Highly Educated Workforce.

With the rise of the Internet and the increase in international trade and competition, nations around the world are finding new opportunities for their citizens. In fact, a rise in a country's GDP is closely linked to the number of college graduates it produces.

While scientists and engineers are vital to the rise of an economy, business majors and design students are also integral for success. In fact, the more diverse the degrees granted are, the better equipped the economy is to withstand the rapid changes occurring on a global scale. If business is the driver of a vital national or local culture, then education is the key.

5. Widespread Access To Higher Education Reduces Cultural Inequalities.

In the United States, outreach efforts to underrepresented communities are becoming a top priority. A nation that ignores the intellectual capital within every aspect of its population is a nation headed for an economic downturn. Outreach efforts to minority groups and women in the areas of science and technology are paying off big-time.

A diverse population in research means that problems are assessed from a multicultural point of view. In fact, large retail corporations such as Target actively recruit to gain a more diverse group of employees to better meet the needs of their potential customers. Enrique Tomeu believes that a country that educates all of its citizens gains in more ways than one.