East Looks West

In the past, universities in Asian countries have tended to be highly technical and specialized, producing graduates with I-shaped backgrounds, rather than the T-shaped backgrounds that come from a well-rounded education.

However, companies have found that this narrow approach to education comes with a cost: it often produces employees who lack creativity and flexible thinking skills, and who have difficulty working in teams. These are all skills that are essential to making any industry globally competitive.

As a result, business leaders in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and other countries without a liberal arts tradition are beginning to insist that the educational institutions in their own countries adopt a broader curriculum. Several of Asia's top educational institutions (including National University in South Korea, Sun Yat-sen University in China, and Tunghai University in Taiwan) have changed their courses to reflect the desires of business leaders, establishing small, but significant, liberal arts programs. In 2013, for example, all of Hong Kong's universities began requiring students to take a fourth year of general education courses.

Asian business leaders know that by fostering the liberal arts they will ultimately gain employees who are able to communicate with one another and creatively problem-solve, leading to a cohesive and effective workforce.