Societal benefits of Higher Education
Higher Education is assumed to influence civic engagement. This is mostly due to the fact that it facilitates critical thinking skills, which are very valuable in making reasonable and logical decisions. Due to the fact that Higher Education institutions are focused on knowledge creation, students can contribute to beneficial innovations for the society. During university, the knowledge distribution, the critical aspects involved in public and professional areas and the encouragement to participate in public debates contribute to civic involvement. Usually, well-educated people are more likely to develop social networks and soft skills and their values can be shared with their children, therefore contributing to a better society.
Moreover, some studies suggest that education can also enhance individuals’ self-confidence, influence attitudes and engagement in altruistic volunteering. Further education participants often feel that contributing as students by undertaking voluntary work gives them a sense of having a privileged position in society. It is true that everyone from different educational levels influences the well-being of their societies and can live moral, engaged and committed lives. Despite this, it was proven that it is more feasible for people with higher levels of education to have resources and a set of skills to become productive community members.
In addition, regions with a highly educated workforce register a lower crime rate and greater personal health improvement. Living a healthier lifestyle is not necessary only due to the fact that in those regions people earn more and have better health care access. Graduates usually exercise more, have lower obesity rates and are less depressed. As a result, medical costs are reduced. In other words, Higher Education improves the quality of civil society.
Economic well-being
Highly-educated workforce influences the economic well-being in many ways. Higher Education can facilitate innovation, entrepreneurial activity, and individuals’ productivity level. Due to working more efficiently or productively using the set of skills gained during studies, people usually earn more. There is a strong relationship between educational attainment and individuals’ average earnings. People with a bachelor degree earn more than those with High School diploma and those with postgraduate studies register a significant increase in earnings. Despite the strong relationship between educational attainment and individuals’ average earnings, there are also exceptions, but this is something which is generally agreed: Higher Education leads to better opportunities.
Economies which invested in Higher Education institutions had a rise in the prosperity and growth levels. Universities are really important for research and development to drive innovations which can influence not only the society well-being but also the economic growth. A country’s economic success relies a lot on knowledge, R&D and people’s talent.
