Some people think that universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace. Others think that the true function of a university should be to give access to knowledge for its own sake, regardless of whether the course is useful to an employer. What, in your opinion, should be the main function of a university?

IELTS Task 2: Some people think that universities should provide graduates with the knowledge and skills needed in the workplace. Others think that the true function of a university should be to give access to knowledge for its own sake, regardless of whether the course is useful to an employer. What, in your opinion, should be the main function of a university?

Nowadays,an increasing number of people are concerned about the purpose of university education. However, whether universities should mainly provide job-related skills or pure knowledge to graduates has caused a heated debate. My view is that academic knowledge should be the main focus of universities.

First, it is obvious that for most students, all practical skills based on academic knowledge, which will enable them to become qualified employees in the future job market. Therefore, it is necessary for universities to provide fundamental knowledge. For example,Math as a major subject has been widely used in different industries.In finance,students can use math knowledge to create an economic model.In addition,math knowledge can help students operate logic algebra system in AI area.

Moreover, universities’ basic knowledge will develop students’ critical thinking.This independent thinking ability is a far more important skill in the real world.Anyone can memorize facts and get job training ,but not everyone can think and analyse.To be able to process information,understand it and use it,universities should focus on pure knowledge.

It is also true that students who master practical skills have more opportunities to access a good job. There are, of course, students know how to solve tough tasks by using professional skills, which help them earn their living. If a student wants to learn about accounting or history or other job-specific information,they do not need to sit in a classroom to get it.Nowadays,anyone can get information and knowledge online and can learn on their own.So surely universities aren’t needed for this purpose.

In summary, the major function of universities should be providing student basic academic knowledge, and thus helping society function better. Meanwhile, we should not ignore the roles of practical skills. Only by doing so can universities maintain dynamic and sustainable development.