Furthering Liberal Arts in Indonesian Higher Education

The study of Liberal Arts is absent in Indonesian higher education. A strong participatory democracy may require skills engendered by a rigorous study of the liberal arts. When I arrived in Indonesia in August 2014, I found a vibrant Indonesian democracy and smart, eager-to-learn university students who were unsatisfied with MKDU (General Education) classes. A strong democracy requires skills engendered by a rigorous study of Liberal Arts. Restructuring the MKDU classes as Liberal Arts classes using active, student-centered instruction should lead to higher levels of critical thinking in college students, higher quality of teachers in local schools, and better citizenship throughout Indonesia and ultimately the world