Introduction
Universities are uniquely composed to collaborate with people to address societal challenges. At the same time, the plans for such collaborations can vary based on the type of community. Engaging in societal issues is a necessary part of higher education for students. Universities can offer opportunities for students to present their views on current societal challenges. This will help students in enriching their lives as community members.
We are living in a time where our society is changing rapidly. Universities, as institutions, are also affected by these massive changes. In this article, we will take a look at what part universities are playing in societal transformation. The transformation can be along the following dimensions;
- Economic transformation
- Political transformation
- Social transformation
- Cultural transformation
1. Curriculum Changes
A curriculum should respond to the changes in society. The curriculum must be constructed based on the factors present in society. These factors include both culture and ideology of the nation. Curriculum changes can address the issues of society effectively.
For example, if the dissertation writing service is the new ideology of a government, it should be included in the curriculum. Adding liberal subjects and liberal ideas to the curriculum will help that society. It will help the masses to understand the way of their living under this new ideology.
Political changes also play an important role in curriculum changes. For example, a party is governing the country today. Its good or bad governance will be part of the curriculum of the country soon. This is how curriculum changes affect society.
2. Setting The Aims, Purpose, And Priorities
Society has a huge impact on universities and their decisions. Society is becoming more complex and diverse steadily. This diversification of society raises many issues for the universities. These issues are both cultural and religious. When universities try to solve these issues, they end up with nothing at all. This is due to the fear of offending a group.
This situation can be improved when universities will bring community representatives into the decision-making process. This has the additional benefit of giving outsiders a perspective on the university. Hence, universities set their goals and priorities over these issues.
3. Relating Societal Challenges Within Teaching Aspects
An Education is a basic tool for success in life in the modern world. The societal challenges within teaching aspects that universities can face are;
1. Classroom Racism
Racism is a social issue that is present in every aspect of society. Teachers sometimes pay less attention to male students as compared to females. They may prefer teaching white students instead of black ones.
2. Ethnic Issues
One’s learning abilities are not straight forwardly connected to their customs. Due to reasons of social challenges, some students from ethnic groups lack exposure to learning. It puts the students at risk of increasing low self-esteem.
4. Highlighting Social Innovators
The Universities scholars can highlight the innovators or individuals who are addressing societal issues. They can arrange online seminars with those innovators. Students should study their case studies that how they tried to solve the problems of their society.
This way, universities play a great role in minimizing societal issues. The research or projects of students must be sustainable.
5. Application Of Transformational And Reproduction Oriented Mode
The transformational and reproduction models are somewhat closely related. These models are used to address societal issues. Like a seminar held in university on challenges in society. The students will then go to their homes and act according to the seminar so, it is a reproduction model.
In the transformational model, administrative bodies of universities start awareness campaigns on issues of society.
6. Encouraging Research On Societal Issue-Based Topics
Universities should encourage research that will be addressing issues of society. University scholars seldom research societal issues.
There has been a decrease in the public intellectual in many countries of the world. Due to this reason, those countries are poor. This trend should be reversed.
There is a role that politicians also need to play along with universities. Politicians should arrange open public talks and debates to know about societal issues. If research is necessary on that particular issue, they can ask for help from universities. So, there should be a collaboration between politicians and universities on issues of society. They can collaborate to research on those issues.
7. Generating Funds For The Local Issues Of Society
Universities research on common issues of the society. The analysis results provide local governments with evidence to make a public policy on that issue. Universities are well equipped and positioned to research the issues the public is facing. Our Universities engage with governments is such issues not as consultants but as critical allies.
Universities help in generating funds too. They arrange paid conferences on societal issues. People from around the world join those conferences, and this way, they generate funds.
8. Providing Courses/Workshops On Battling Specific Societal Issues
Universities also arrange workshops to cope with social issues, like public health. They can also arrange conferences for this purpose. Many researchers around the globe join such types of conferences. They present their ways of handling societal issues. Hence, these conferences have a huge impact on solving issues of society.
Along with universities, there are many other online sources available for social issues. TakingITGlobal dot org is now a global online community for young people, providing a platform to engage with social issues. Many universities and organizations offer free of cost online courses. You can learn those courses free of cost and play your part in minimizing social issues. The biggest social issue is climate change nowadays. Different universities are offering many online courses in climate change. Recently, Bill Gates has also made his free to download which is on climate change.
Conclusion
The Universities have a big role to play in transforming societies. But this role appears to be missing in most parts of the world. Climate change and health issues are two global issues that need to be addressed soon. Hence, universities should play their part in societal issues. Our conclusion is good and readable for every one
