Old models of education no longer apply. Certainly, we must continue to encourage the development of skills, but these now include the skills of information science and technology needed by all students and the multicultural skills that undergird success in an internationalized society. As always, we must continue to expose students to new perspectives and convey the essence of a given field to its majors, but we do so now realizing that such efforts represent only a shrinking sample of what might be studied or a freeze-frame in a body of knowledge subject to exponential growth and inevitable change. Given these constraints, and recognizing that in an increasingly complex world the ability to understand, to evaluate, and to respond creatively to challenge and change will influence virtually all aspects of life, we must somehow equip students to continue to learn long after they leave us. Equally important, we must open their hearts as well as their minds to this task.
Intellectual capital is of tremendous importance to the future.
Yet so is the extent to which our institutions promote character, conscience, citizenship, and social responsibility among those whose lives we touch. In the view of the Kellogg Commission, involving students in meaningful research and integrating the community into the academic experiences of our students are promising approaches. Internships, practicums, and service learning opportunities make the context for learning real-life situations in businesses, organizations, and communities. These experiences have many rewards. For the organizations involved, there is work of value being done, often on a volunteer basis.