Today, undergraduate engineering degrees such as Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Computer Science or Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) fail to keep up with the demands of the ever-evolving Software-IT industry. Conventional classroom-teaching methods and an outdated curriculum for practical degrees continue to be the norm in the learning space. As a result, engineering students graduate with a confined and restricted academic theoretical knowledge of concepts. They lack the skills and experience to take on real-world programming and software development challenges. Subsequently, they graduate underskilled and unemployed, failing placements.
Liberal Education: Definition & Meaning
Liberal education refers to an interdisciplinary take on education. Liberal education is education for the sake of education; to learn for learning’s sake. We learn not because it is supposed to help us achieve something and deliver certain results, we learn to expand our minds and grow as responsible individuals in society. 19th Century thinkers such as John Henry Newman, Thomas Huxley, and F.D. Maurice advocated the concept of liberal education due to its sheer nature of teaching life values alongside core subjects.
21st-century developments have made the learning experience limitless. Enthusiastic learners can access online portals to study concepts that the Education System fails to provide. People who cannot afford to go to college can pursue and master specific skill sets via easily accessible online resources. The liberal approach teaches students to be analytical thinkers and effective communicators.
10 Principles of Liberal Education Theory
In Newman’s definition, the main objective of a liberal education is the “cultivation of the intellect”. The pedagogy and philosophy of education are ever-evolving in the field of study and research. However, the application of the research in the classroom curriculum falls short. Nevertheless, the literature lists down ten principles for the modern liberation education theory,
- Lifelong learning
- Academic freedom
- Importance of practice and experience
- Critical thinking and civil competency
- Competency development instead of knowledge accumulation
- Priority of general education over specialised education
- The concept of learning to learn
- Self-directed learning effort
- Political neutrality
- Interaction and Socratic dialogue
Misconceptions of a Liberal Education
The common man’s word about a liberal approach to education is that it does not include STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning or business learning. However, that is far from reality. A liberal engineering program is the combined result of STEM learning and the essentials of philosophy, social sciences, foreign languages, professional real-life skills, etc. A liberal approach ensures that students graduate to be their best versions when working in society.
Various tech companies today lookout for “STEAM” learning, wherein the “A” stands for arts. It turns out that engineers who can assess data from many points of view or developers who can code while also having an eye for aesthetic nuances are better prepared to innovate and command business decisions. Now, who wouldn’t want a team player as talented and skilled as that!
10 Reasons Why a Liberal Engineering Education is for You
The tech industry is booming with job opportunities today. However, it’s not enough to be just technologically brilliant. Companies want to invest their resources and time in people with life skills, leadership qualities, teamwork spirit, business awareness, a growth mindset, etc. Here are ten reasons why a liberal engineering program is your golden ticket to success,
- Delivers an interdisciplinary approach
A liberal arts education includes a wide range of academic fields, including literary works, ethos, maths, scientific methods, and the social sciences. This enriches students’ outlooks on the fields they choose, instils a positive outlook, and enhances their ideology regarding the ways of the world, thus making them valuable members of any organisation. You might want to pursue Robotics, Machine Learning, and Data Sciences; however, your program may not cater to all. A liberal engineering program on the other hand ensures space to grow in all fields of interest, promoting learning and growth.
- Enforces analytical skills
Instead of stressing about what to think, you stress about how to think. Students begin to evaluate, reflect, and relate concepts with real-life situations instead of rote-learning facts. Before mastering their specialised areas, learners develop a broader understanding of the humanities via courses in the arts, sociology, natural sciences, and formal sciences. They think artistically and critically, which renders a more practical and patient personality. It is not about what you have learned, but about how you have applied it to make your surroundings better. Learned how to build a website? Let’s analyse the concepts and build a website. Hands-on experience is the key to growth.
- Strengthens soft skills
In general, soft skills are the set of characteristics that define the personality of people and help them engage in meaningful interactions with one another. Learners of liberal studies empower themselves with sought-after talents from every industry. You can build a program or application from scratch and it turns out to be a path-breaking innovation. However, what if you can’t communicate your model to potential investors? What if it fails due to a lack of people skills? We don’t want that happening.
- Nurtures all-rounder individuals
A liberal arts education does not stress a specific field of study, as the rigid orthodox education system does. Students acquire an understanding of their civic duties via implementing creative approaches. Combining one’s creative and analytical skills with their theoretical knowledge and expertise results in a well-rounded talent. Today’s market is booming with growth opportunities for nurtured talent such as that. Companies and organizations want self-learners and leaders. A professional environment would never spoon-feed you to success.
- Not limited to Conventional Learning
Software engineers are not always engineering graduates. To learn a language and ace the field, the skill set required can be developed and mastered outside the classroom as well. Learners can study multiple courses and excel in technical and soft skills. Hiring companies today further provide resourceful opportunities for learners to upskill in areas aside from their technical job descriptions. Hence, the question remains, why should a student spend 4 years confined to the four walls of an outdated classroom? They can just opt for supplementary skilling courses and bag their dream opportunities. Nevertheless, a liberal engineering education would ensure a balanced delivery of academic skills.
- Vast Job prospects
With good reason, a liberally-trained graduate will by default be offered a higher number of future employment prospects as compared to a traditionally educated graduate. Liberal graduates are ready with the abilities that employers seek most, including, but not limited to, collaboration, logical analysis, and the flexibility to analyse things from several angles. The greatest feature is that they are actively involved in the development of on-field solutions and projects. Additionally, a liberal approach is an interdisciplinary approach to education wherein students learn and inculcate concepts out of their curriculum as well. This in turn makes them eligible for more than one job prospect or field.
- Immersive social training
A person can learn social skills and comprehend social conduct through interventions and instructional techniques. A liberally trained engineer will ask open-ended questions, create goals for themselves and also make conclusions from the body language of individuals. Thus, it helps them massively to thrive in any work environment.
- Exposure to cool elements
Learners are usually exposed to novel notions, fresh ideas, and new experiences. In fact, they are constantly given the chance to experiment, be risk takers, and try new things, whether it be through studying overseas, community-engaged study, or engaging in a peer-reviewed work environment with an industry mentorship, in addition to the faculty and guest lecturers.
- A wider understanding of the world
Learners are able to widen their perceptions of the world and understand better how their actions and decisions are a catalyst for change. One can acquire a deeper generic view of the world via acquiring a breadth of knowledge, which also enables the students to think more clearly. Thus, they succeed in understanding the ways of the world and engaging in meaningful relations with their peers in the workplace. A liberal arts education gives learners the skills they need to grasp and widen their perspectives on the world.
- Training for the future
A liberal education revolutionises the general way of thinking. It does not emphasise on obsolete concepts and instead, it paves a way for innovation in the future. In fact, a liberal way of thinking plants the seeds of inquisitiveness among people that encourages them to question the validity of the elements in use today. Many of the graduate learners of today are likely to be in their forties and fifties in 25 years, working in fields that have not yet been created. What would permit them to prosper in a world that is inherent? The capacity to understand, develop, work with others, and keep up.
Liberal Education at the Global Platform
The prime indicator of a country’s growth is its education system. Today the focus no longer remains on academic proficiency alone. In fact, a wholesome and immersive curriculum has become a priority in educational institutions. Also, it is important to note that an ‘immersive’ curriculum does not only refer to ‘textbook learning’ and ‘mandatory classroom attendance’. Rather, it is about copious amounts of knowledge on diverse topics received in active learning spaces. Countries like the United States, Europe, Japan, and Russia have revamped their learning spaces by incorporating the necessary upgrades of the changing times.
Today, learning and memorising academic concepts is not enough. Learning how to learn is essential. Learning to apply concepts is key to success. Education must never follow a defined way, or it gets stagnant and fails to drive growth. The declarative streams of Indian higher education, i.e. Science, Arts, and Commerce, narrow down learning by confining dynamic minds at a young age. However, the ever-expanding scope of education, especially in foreign countries, drives various students to travel to take up courses at universities that offer a liberal approach to education. Interdisciplinary liberal engineering courses help foster,
- inquisitiveness and fluidity,
- the capacity for rigorous and broad thought,
- the ability to link ideas across various disciplines,
- the willingness to accept new viewpoints, and
- the power to overcome barriers.
A liberal approach to learning has forever lacked in the Indian Education System. Is it by choice of the government or the sheer lack of concern of the stakeholders, who is to tell? However, lately, liberal education, especially in the field of engineering, has started to gain momentum. Colleges and universities are adopting better and more efficient ways of learning. For example, various schools across metropolitan cities have adopted ‘digital learning’ and ‘interactive classroom’ experiences into their way of teaching the basics of K12 learning as well.
Liberal Engineering in India
Revolutions generate fear among people. History is proof that humankind fears change. However, they have never been able to run away from it. The liberal studies approach is an infinite and non-restrictive way of learning that transforms young learners into successful leaders. Since the decision of choosing your educational trajectory is crucial, it must be made carefully. Engineering specialisation of Software Development is the most in-demand course of the 21st century. A booming tech market and vast field of job opportunities and security make Computer Science a go-to choice for undergraduate studies. However, it is important to ensure that learners acquire essential life skills alongside technical proficiency.
Today’s multinational corporations (MNCs) and engineering organisations are seeking people with quick flexibility, innovation, and intercultural competence. MNCs such as Google, Amazon, and HP have stated explicitly that they seek applicants who can combine technical expertise with leadership, cultural intelligence, and communication skills. If an individual is unable to express their thought and vision while catering to the user’s interest, their skills fall short in the workplace during evaluation. Following the need of the hour, the founders of Kalvium, India’s 1st Liberal Engineering Program in Computer Science, have introduced an experiential work-integrated curriculum. The vision of the program is to revolutionise the ed-tech learning space by equipping skills with academic proficiency and strengthening real-world skills and personality.
India’s 1st Liberal Engineering Program
Kalvium is a new-age education company on a quest to transform the higher education space and offers India’s 1st Liberal Engineering Program in Computer Science. The unique work-integrated curriculum helps young minds transform into thriving future tech leaders. The Kalvium-powered program tests and challenges your,
- Data Interpretation & Analysis
- Numerical Understanding
- Logical Reasoning Power
- Communication Skills
- Creative Thinking & Expression
- Problem-Solving Ability
- Algorithmic Proficiency
The amalgamation of engineering core concepts and Kalvium’s foundational courses make the undergraduate program a liberal engineering degree. It is a 4-year on-campus program and not a supplementary program. Offered in partnership with leading universities, the Kalvium program is approved and recognised by government bodies. Students are provided with an interactive learning experience under the guidance of industry-experienced mentors and a trained faculty.
Tech-Industry exposure and a real-world problem-solving learning approach help students kickstart their careers from the onset of their graduation. Kalvium’s mission is to transform today’s computer science enthusiasts into tomorrow’s tech entrepreneurs who not only deliver world-class projects but are also able to lead projects efficiently. As a part of Kalvium’s industry-oriented curriculum, students learn and receive mentorship from industry CTOs and CXOs.
5 Reasons Why Kalvium is the Liberal Engineering Course for You
Both within and outside the classrooms, learners experience a cutting-edge curriculum that enlightens and expands their thought horizons. An up-to-date pedagogy delivers industry understanding and requirements. Kalvium’s liberal engineering teaching methodology follows a student-centric education. The curriculum focuses on skill development rather than mandated classroom attendance and course book cramming. Learners engage in a self-paced learning mechanism that motivates them to deliver better results. Here are 5 reasons why you need to be a liberal engineer,
- A liberally trained engineer can analyse the problem at hand more effectively
Kalvium offers a wide range of foundation courses like Critical thinking 101, Principles of Science, Techniques for creative thinking, and others, that are given due weightage in terms of the credits allotted to them. These courses are aimed at teaching budding engineers ways to process information and develop the ability to think across disciplines.
For instance, if a graduate decides to work as a software developer at a firm, their main task will be to talk to their clients and understand their requirements. Accordingly, they will use their analysing as well as problem-solving skills to meet their needs by developing desired software.
- Since most problems in software development occur due to miscommunication in the context of conveying information, learning how to express your thoughts is a must
Liberal concepts such as ‘How human languages work’ and ‘Discovering self’ an essential parts of the Kalvium curriculum. Learners are effectively trained to express themselves better in professional environments. This clarity of thought and relaying of information leads to the creation of well-adept product delivery due to a better understanding of user perspectives.
For example, a game developer might be exceptionally good at their job. However, in order to market their game, they need certain business and communication skills to get investors for their venture. Thus, communication becomes a key aspect.
- The liberal arts encourage students to be life-long learners, which is vital in the ever-changing realm of technology
Kalvium’s unique curriculum promotes inquisitive behaviour among students. Further, this thirst for knowledge encourages students to keep learning new things each day. Thus, the course trains students to build a wide range of expertise in general.
For data scientists to work methodically and efficiently, they need to be continuously learning new approaches to organising data. Thus, inquisitive behaviour helps them to acquire knowledge constantly and stay at the top of their field.
- An engineer trained in a liberal way works both efficiently and effectively to bring change
Kalvium’s courses hone the soft skills of students that help them acquire the right set of skills to sustain themselves in a competitive work environment. Moreover, the transfer of technical knowledge from the mentors to students enables them to work with optimal efficiency.
For someone working in a leadership role at a tech firm, communication and critical thinking skills are of utmost importance. In fact, these skills help them guide others in their teams to work as per their optimal potential.
- The finest engineers link computer science principles with reasoning and problem-solving skills
Learning how to learn is also a part of the Kalvium program that teaches students to effectively gather information and analytically process it to achieve desired results. Kalvium’s focus is on the simulation of a professional environment in the class and more importantly the independence of self-paced learning by the student. The program incorporates the ‘liberal’ concept of Critical thinking to encourage students to program and build via analytical reasoning and skill implementation.
Analysing skills are important for graduates working in any job role at tech firms. In fact, employers look for recruits with a strong presence of mind and sharp reasoning skills as well.
The Kalvium engineering program coaches graduates to be well-rounded tech experts and leaders. If you are a computer science enthusiast and want a degree that helps you strengthen your academic foundation alongside real-world industry project experience, then Kalvium’s liberal engineering program is tailor-made for you. Kalvium offers an interdisciplinary learning model, tech leader mentorship, experienced faculty, curriculum-mandated internships, and so much more.
See You on the Better Side!
In order to impart knowledge that is necessary for employment, civic participation, and daily life, liberal training is an approach to higher education that encourages the unification of learning via traditional methods and the inquiry-based learning method. Similarly, a liberal engineering degree combines the best of both worlds. It wittily blends the knowledge of the world with rock-solid technical concepts. Hence, a liberal engineering course creates engineers that have an edge over their fellow competitors in the context of employability.
Having gained real-world work experience and a liberal outlook toward solving problems, a liberal engineering graduate would be uniquely prepared to solve the problems of the twenty-first century. The Kalvium-powered B.Tech program challenges the traditional B.Tech education system by revamping the learning-model structures to make it more attuned to the present-day scenario. In terms of collaborative and active learning, the use of innovation, and coaching, a liberal engineering course integrates the best content, coursework, and skills. And, this is done with the intention of drawing young minds to the best opportunities for learning and educating them to become world leaders.