This morning our school invited a professor from another university to address college students of business on Global Development: Views from Taiwan. At the beginning of his speech,  he encouraged young college students to enrich their knowledge of profession, sharpen foreign language skills, especially English, and develop global perspectives (see the definition) to meet ever-changing global competition.

Going global or developing global perspectives has become a new buzzword in higher education. Colleges or universities have been trying to establish sister schools internationally, provide more language training courses and send their students abroad to be exposed to the target culture. They do every way possible to enhance their (schools and students) global competitiveness.

I have been wondering what the goal of higher (college) education is. Is it to train a professional in a specific field? a global citizen? or just a “human being”? In John 8:32 we read that if you know the truth and the truth will set you free. What is the truth? And how can the truth make you free? In another parable, Jesus told about the foolishness of a rich man. He would plan to tear down his small barn in order to build up a large one and then enjoy his life, but God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?” (Luke 12:20).  What good is it for a person to gain the whole world, but lose his life (soul)?

There is nothing wrong to train a person’s expertise or keep global comeptition in perspective; however, seeking God and keeping a godly perspective needs to be the top priority in our life.