Иностранный язык. Английский язык. Учебное пособие

–Consideration (or report) stage: this takes place on the floor of the House, and is a further opportunity to amend the bill. Unlike committee stage, the House need not consider every clause of the bill, only those to which amendments have been tabled.

–Third reading: a debate on the final text of the bill, as amended. Passage: The bill is then sent to the other House (to the Lords, if it originated in the Commons; to the Commons, if it is a Lords bill), which may amend it.

–Consideration of Lords/Commons amendments: The House in which the bill originated considers the amendments made in the other House.

–Royal assent.

Political Parties

The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century, it has been seen since 1920 as the principal party of the Left in England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland, where it has only recently begun to organise again. Labour first surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s. Since then, the party has had several spells in government, at first in minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931, then as a junior partner in the wartime coalition from 1940-1945 and ultimately forming majority governments under Clement Attlee in 1945-1951 and under Harold Wilson in 1964-1970. Labour was in government again in 1974-1979, first under Wilson and then James Callaghan, though with a precarious and declining majority. The Labour Party won a majority in the 1997 general election under the leadership of Tony Blair, its first general election victory since October 1974 and the first general election since 1970 in which it had exceeded 40% of the popular vote. The party's large majority in the House of Commons was slightly reduced to 167 in the 2001 general election and more substantially reduced to 66 in 2005. Labour is the leading partner in the coalition Welsh government and the main opposition party in the Scottish Parliament. It has 13 members in the European Parliament. The Labour Party is a member of the Party of European Socialists and the Socialist International. The party's current leader is Keir Starmer.

Party ideology

The party grew out of the trade union movement and socialist political parties of the 19th century seeking workers' representation, and describes itself as a "democratic socialist party". However, since the "New Labour" project began, a larger proportion of its support has come from middle-class voters and many perceive this support as key to Labour's electoral success since 1997. Historically the party was broadly in favour of socialism, as set out in Clause Four of the original party constitution, and advocated socialist policies such as public ownership of key industries, government intervention in the economy, redistribution of wealth, increased rights for workers, the welfare state, publicly-funded healthcare and education. Beginning in the late-1980s under the leadership of Neil Kinnock, and subsequently under John Smith and Tony Blair, the party moved away from socialist positions and adopted free market policies, leading many observers to describe the Labour Party as Social Democratic or Third Way, rather than democratic socialist. Party electoral manifestos have not contained the term socialism since 1992, when the original Clause Four was abolished, although the new version says: "The Labour Party is a democratic socialist party. It believes that by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we achieve alone, so as to create for each of us the means to realise our true potential and for all of us a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few, where the rights we enjoy reflect the duties we owe, and where we live together, freely, in a spirit of solidarity, tolerance and respect."

The Conservative and Unionist Party, more commonly known as the Conservative Party, is a political party in the United Kingdom. Founded in its present form during the early 19th century, it has since been the principal centre right party in the UK. The Conservative Party is descended from the old Tory Party, founded in 1678, and is still often referred to as the Tory Party and its politicians, members and supporters as Tories. It added the moniker Unionist in the early 20th century, following

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the Conservatives' alliance with that part of the Liberal Party, known as the Liberal Unionists, who opposed their party's support for Irish Home Rule. The Conservative Party was in government for two-thirds of the twentieth century. Since losing the 1997 election to the Labour Party, as the second largest political party in terms of MPs it has constituted the official opposition. The current party leader is David Cameron, who acts as the leader of the opposition and heads the shadow cabinet. As of 2009, it has more councillors in local government, British members of the European Parliament and members of the London Assembly than any other party.

The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, are a centrist to centre-left social liberal British political party. The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party. The two parties had formed the electoral SDP-Liberal Alliance for seven years before then. The party's leader is Nick Clegg. The Lib Dems are the third-largest party in the House of Commons, behind the Labour Party and the Conservative Party. There are 63 Lib Dem Members of Parliament (MPs) – 62 were elected at the 2005 general election and one in a 2006 by-election.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats formed a coalition with Labour in the first two sessions of the Scottish Parliament, and the Welsh party were in a coalition with Labour in the National Assembly for Wales from 2001 to 2003. Promoting social liberalism, the Liberal Democrats voice strong support for constitutional reform, civil liberties, and higher taxes for public services. The party president's book of office is John Stuart Mill's On Liberty, which defended individual rights while attacking the tyranny of the majority and the despotism of custom. Although the party objects to state limitations on individual rights, it does favour a welfare state that provides for the necessities and amenities of life. They support multilateral foreign policy, opposing British participation in the War in Iraq and supporting the withdrawal of troops from the country. The Liberal Democrats are the most pro-European Union of the three main parties in the UK. The party has strong environmentalist values

– favouring renewable energy and commitments to deeper cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Since their foundation, Lib Dems have advocated electoral reform to use proportional representation, hoping to replace the House of Lords with an elected chamber.

The judiciary (also known as the judicial system or judicature) is the system of courts which interprets and applies the law in the name of the sovereign or state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. Under the doctrine of the separation of powers, the judiciary generally does not make law (that is, in a plenary fashion, which is the responsibility of the legislature) or enforce law (which is the responsibility of the executive), but rather interprets law and applies it to the facts of each case. This branch of government is often tasked with ensuring equal justice under law. It usually consists of a court of final appeal (called the "supreme court" or "constitutional court"), together with lower courts. The term "judiciary" is also used to refer collectively to the personnel, such as judges, magistrates and other adjudicators, who form the core of a judiciary (sometimes referred to as a "bench"), as well as the staffs who keep the system running smoothly. The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is the supreme court (court of last resort, highest appellate court) in all matters under English law, Welsh law, Northern Irish law and Scottish civil law (the court has no authority over criminal cases in Scotland, where the High Court of Justiciary remains the supreme criminal court). The Supreme Court also has jurisdiction to determine devolution disputes — cases in which the legal powers of the three devolved governments or laws made by the devolved legislatures are questioned. The Supreme Court sits in the Middlesex Guildhall in Westminster, London, which it shares with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The Supreme Court was established by Part 3 of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005 and started work on 1 October 2009. https://countrystudy.do.am/index/lecture_1_uk_geography/0-9 https://countrystudy.do.am/index/lecture_3_uk_government/0-14

Saint Petersburg

Saint Petersburg was built by Peter the Great in 1703 on the Neva river, amidst the land he had just conquered from Sweden, outside the area populated then by the Russian people. Pre-planned

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rather than spontaneous almost from the very beginning, the city, called by Peter "my window on Europe", was designed to look European rather than Russian, and many European architects were invited to work here. As the capital of the Russian Empire from the early 18th century to the early 20th century, the city grew steadily, saw many crucial events of the Russian history, and was a major cultural center. Many world-famous artists, scientists, writers and composers, such as Mendeleev, Dostoevsky and Tchaikovsky, lived and worked here.

In 1917 the Russian Revolution started. The significance of Saint Petersburg has declined somewhat after the transfer of the Russian capital to Moscow in 1918, but this allowed its cityscape to remain largely intact to this day. During World War II, the city was besieged by the Wehrmacht for 872 days, resulting in more than a million of civilian losses, mainly from starvation.

The city has undergone several name changes since its foundation. Due to the German origins of the name "Saint Petersburg", its name was changed to the more Russian-sounding "Petrograd" in 1914 in the wake of World War I. Subsequently, its name was changed to "Leningrad" in honour of the founding leader of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. It was only in 1991, after the breakup of the Soviet Union that the original name was restored, though the surrounding area remains known as Leningrad Oblast.

Saint Petersburg has almost always been, or at least tried to be a city with strong foreign connections, and this is where its authenticity lies. Don't expect it to be overly indigenous. Matryoshkas and other such souvenirs popular among foreigners have very little to do with its authentic life.

Saint Petersburg is nicknamed the “Northern Venice”. The city's position at 60°N makes for huge seasonal variation in day length. Days are less than 6 hours long at the end of December, but it never gets darker than twilight during the White Nights season in June. Not only are the days very short in late autumn and early winter, but the weather may be overcast for weeks, without a hint of blue sky, which may feel depressing. The driest season with least precipitation is early spring. July and August are usually the rainiest months, though the difference is usually not big enough to worry about. But if you care about this, it is a good idea to have an umbrella or raincoat handy.

In November–March there are hardly any tourists — even domestic tourists — so you won't see the barest hint of the long lines of the summer at the Hermitage. Saint Petersburg's neoclassical streets are also simply gorgeous in the snow. Temperatures can range from relatively mild, slightly above freezing point, to bitterly cold. From time to time it may get well below the averages, to -25°C (-13F) and below, often with high humidity and wind, so be prepared to dress warmly. Most major tourist attractions (except fountains and all sorts of water transport, of course) are still open and some hotels offer lower prices during this time.

Snow cover persists on average from November till early April (late April in the countryside), with most of it falling during the first half of the winter. Snow is not always removed from streets in time and may exacerbate traffic problems. The danger of slipping may be high in winter, as the surfaces are often covered with ice. Wear good boots, take small steps, and watch your feet! Also beware of icicles falling from roofs.

The rivers and canals are frozen on average from late November till April. Usually from late April till November the Neva is navigable, and during this season most of its huge bridges are drawn up to let ships pass for several hours each night according to a published schedule. This is a spectacular sight during the White Nights, but also a major transport inconvenience.

In April, the sludge resulting from melting snow and the dust which forms when it dries up may get tiresome.

May 9 is Victory Day (День победы) celebrating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. This day is marked with an opening military parade on Palace Square, directly in front of the Hermitage, visiting various war monuments, giving flowers to war veterans who are dressed in full military outfits, and an evening parade down Nevsky Prospekt which includes survivors of the Siege of Leningrad.

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Summer: White Nights

June is peak tourist season during the famous White Nights (roughly 11 June–2 July), when the sun sets only for a brief period of twilight, and the streets stay alive around the clock. The last ten days of June, during the White Nights Festival of all-day performances, concerts, festivals, and parties, are the busiest time of the season and it can be difficult to reserve accommodation and transport. Book early.

July and August are usually the warmest months. This is a rather northern city, and it rarely gets really hot, but even more modest warmth can be hard to bear in summer because of the high humidity. Rain showers usually come and go throughout this time, so it is always a good idea for one to have an umbrella or rain jacket at all times, even on sunny clear days.

Late September — early October is a lovely time in the city. The temperatures drop to moderate, often with strong winds, and the tourists are all gone. Rain is still common.

Fountains work from May through mid-September. Most trees are in leaf from May through October.

When deciding on the time of your visit, keep in mind the days of school holidays, when museums and other similar venues can become considerably more crowded. School holidays happen in early November, the first half of January and late March. Moreover, general holidays are held around the New Year into early January, as well as in early May.

New Years is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia. Reserving a hotel room is usually not a problem during this time, but be prepared for very large crowds and noisy celebrations. https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Saint_Petersburg

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ST PETERSBURG

St. Petersburg is not like other cities in Russia. It reminds about the glorious imperial past. It was the capital for a long time, but gave way to Moscow. Many of those who created the history of our country, our world, grew up in this city.

And yet, there are many surprising facts about our city that few people know. By the way, did you know that St. Petersburg is the northernmost city in the world with a population over 1 million people? or that Petersburg is the third most populous city in Europe? In this review, we have collected for you only the most interesting facts about the Northern Capital of Russia.

1. St. Petersburg had 3 names

Our city, in fact, had 3 names. Historically, the city was called and renamed several times, but always in honor of the great politicians - Peter the Great and Vladimir Lenin. Until 1914 - St. Petersburg, from 1914 to 1924 - Petrograd, from 1924 to 1992 - Leningrad, from 1992 - again St. Petersburg.

2. The Highest Cathedral in Russia

Peter & Paul Cathedral is the highest cathedral in Russia. The height of its bell tower is 122.5 metres. By the way, from 1733 to 2012, the cathedral was the tallest building in St. Petersburg, and until 1952 it was the tallest in Russia.

3. Hospitable Nevsky Prospect

Nevsky Prospect is the warmest part of the city. The temperature difference with the suburbs in summer is 2–3 degrees; in winter 10-12 degrees higher. By the way, according to statistics, about 2 million people travel every day along the central street of the city.

4. Priceless collection of the Hermitage

The Hermitage collection has about 3 million exhibits located in 350 rooms of five buildings. To inspect the entire collection, lingering at each exhibit for only 1 minute, you will have to spend 8 years of life and walk more than 20 kilometers.

5. Amazing Michailovskiy castle

The architecture of St. Petersburg is so different that during the construction of the Mikhailovsky Castle (now the Russian Museum), all four facades of the building had to be made in different

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architecture styles. The castle is made in this form to achieve harmony with the surrounding architectural environment.

6. Unique Neva River system

The length of the Neva River is only 74 km, but despite this, it flows through the territory a little less than the territory of Italy. The Neva delta includes the lakes Ladoga, Onega, Saimaa, Ilmen, as well as the Svir, Volkhov and Vuoksa rivers. In the world there is only one similar water system - the Great Lakes in North America. The main river of St. Petersburg Neva carries more water than the Don and the Dnieper combined.

7. St. Petersburg has a popular name

Since we mentioned North America, here`s another amazing fact. In the United States of America there are 15 cities with the name Petersburg. St. Petersburg in Florida is the largest one.

8. St Petersburg is the North Venice

10% of the total area of St. Petersburg is covered with water. The city is located on 42 islands, has over 300 bridges. From the Troitskiy Bridge you can see 7 other bridges, and from Kashin bridge (through the Griboedov Canal) 9 other bridges!

9. Column without supports

The Alexander Column, 47.5 metres high and weighing about 700 tons, is crowned with an angel figure with a cross. The column is not fixed and is held by its own gravity. At first, citizens were afraid to pass by the column and avoided it. Then the author of the monument, Auguste de Montferrand, began to stroll every day near the column, convincing the citizens of his actions about the safety of his building.

10. The deepest metro in the world

The deepest metro in the world is in St. Petersburg. The city was built on a swampy area, so the subway tunnels had to be laid under the bedrock. The tunnels of the St. Petersburg metro lie at a depth of about 70-80 meters.

11. "Blue bridge" - One of the widest bridges in the world

"Blue" bridge in St. Petersburg, thrown across the river Moika, is the widest bridge in the city and one of the widest in the world. Its width is 97.3 metres. Because of its record width, it almost equals the width of St. Isaac's Square.

12. Petersburg is the capital of trams

St. Petersburg is the capital of trams. The length of the tram tracks in the city is more than 600 km. This fact is listed in the Guinness Book of Records.

13. The first railway of Russia appeared in Petersburg

One more thing about transport. St. Petersburg became the first city in Russia, where in 1837 the first Russian railway St. Petersburg - Tsarskoe Selo was opened.

14. First public museum in Russia was founded in St. Petersburg

In 1714, Peter the Great opened the first public museum in Russia, the Kunstkamera, in St. Petersburg. Today it is the most famous museum of anthropology and ethnography in Russia. The museum collection has over a million expositions revealing the ethnographic and historical features of the people all over the world.

15. One of a kind - the monument to Nicholas I

The monument to Nicholas I on St. Isaac`s Square, created by Peter Klodt, the only equestrian monument in the world that has only two points of support. https://mostpetersburg.com/main-facts-about-petersburg

Most Serious Problems in the World (Global Issues)

by Veer Sharma

As the world currently grapples with the Coronavirus Pandemic, other major global issues have been swept aside.

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Problems in the world

1. Global Poverty:

There is a strong demarcation when it comes to the economic conditions between the global north and the global south. However, the prevalence is a lot more In African countries and most importantly India. Although major steps have been taken to combat the problem, Poverty has left a trail of destruction in its path. It is estimated that over 1.3 billion people across the globe live in destitute areas often surviving on $1.25 a day or even less. Victims of poverty often survive on one or two meals a day.

The worst affected by poverty are children. With little or no food available, it opens the doors to many problems. One such problem is that of Malnutrition. Spreading at an alarming rate, one in ten children is born with a low birth weight while it is one in four in the Asian Subcontinent. 45 per cent of the death in children is because of malnutrition. We must understand that malnutrition not only means less food. Here, the component is nutrition. Obesity is another kind of malnutrition and according to World Health Organisation (WHO), approximately 1.9 billion people are overweight.

Global poverty is a matter of grave concern. It has made the lives of people a living hell. With minimal food and a thatched roof over their heads, poverty is a global emergency. Ravaging the world, organizations must ramp up efforts to combat it.

Although there is a dramatic improvement in the lives of people with 10 per cent of people living on $1.90 a day compared to an enormous 36 per cent in 1990. In the recent context, the novel coronavirus has made the global situation a lot more problematic. As the global economy goes into recession, poverty rates will shoot up along with job loss, and little or no access to health care facilities.

2. Gender Inequality:

Despite making up half of the world population, there have always been social barriers to their overall development. Even though there have been many social movements demanding equality for women, there is still a long way to go.

Deprived of basic rights such as education for financial reasons or a belief that education doesn’t matter for women, inequality is deeply rooted in society. They are paid less for the same work a man does. Often, victims of sexual harassment, women are at higher risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease more commonly known as STD.

Sadly, yet interestingly according to the World Economic Forum women are 47 per cent more likely to suffer severe injuries in a car crash because safety features are designed for men. The gender gap is enormous and closing the gap would require at least a century. Furthermore, there are only 6 countries out of a total of 195 that give equal work rights to women. These countries are Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Sweden, and Luxembourg.

Organizations such as the UN are constantly trying to educate people about women’s rights. United Nation’s 17 sustainable development goals is a shred of evidence, with Gender Equality being the 5th goal.

3. Food Scarcity:

A major global concern, the number of people going to bed on a hungry stomach is increasing as we speak. It is because of food that all health-related problems arise. With economic instability, and very little money being produced, it will inevitably lead to food scarcity in the world.

It is interesting to note that there is a direct correlation between migration and food security. People move out of a country in search of better job opportunities and better quality of living. Ironically, it is the refugees who suffer the most as far as food security is concerned. United Nations SDG number 2 is Zero Hunger aiming to eradicate it by 2030. Food scarcity is also related to poverty as mentioned above.

4. Climate Change:

The term climate change, at the surface level, weather conditions of a place over many years. The unpredictable weather pattern, destructible floods, and rising sea levels, climate change is real that calls for large scale intervention.

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With the advent of industrialization, the greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing at lightning speed which has largely contributed to the rising temperatures. Burning fossil fuels that produce a great deal of smoke has also tremendously impacted the natural climate of the world. With rising temperatures, glaciers have been melting rapidly. In response to this, an Italian glacier was covered with tarpaulin sheets to slow down the melting.

The UN has repeatedly emphasized the need to use renewable energy. However economic problems of majorities act as a hindrance. Apart from suggestions, there has been an overall consensus in a bid to solve this problem. The Kyoto Protocol legally binds the first world countries to reduce their CO2 emissions. The first commitment of the same started in 2008 and ended in 2012. Similarly, The Paris Agreement in 2015 also embarked on a journey to reduce carbon emissions globally. Young activists like Greta Thunberg has also tried to mobilize people about climate change.

5. Water Crisis:

Being essential to livelihood and survival, one in nine is deprived of this crucial resource. According to the World Economic Forum, the water crisis is one of the most important crises in the world. People often scamper around in to get water. For example, standing in long queues only to get one bucket of water.

Having no access to water results in poor sanitation, which further results in the spread of communicable diseases. Being financially vulnerable and having little resources to buy, the spread of diseases results in many deaths across the globe. Similarly, the water crisis has a detrimental impact on the ecology and more so for farmers whose livelihood island. Loss of crops and drought are common in a water crisis with farmer suicides being very prevalent in many parts of the world.

People are left with no option but to open defecate and wash clothes in water bodies. This has harmed marine life awfully. It is imperative to understand that not all water is for our use. Much of the water is saline and cannot be used. The water crisis has caused rampant destruction to livelihood.

With the commencement of liberalization and many MNCs looking to take over the public sphere, water was also a target to be privatized. A prominent example of this is the Bolivia Water War also known as the Cochabamba Water War. Here, water was on the verge of getting privatized. The cost of water would have been exorbitantly high. Mass gatherings and demonstrations later came to the rescue and their demands were finally met.

6. Environmental Degradation:

Forests cover approximately 31 per cent of the world. They are extremely important to human survival since they keep climatic conditions moderate. It is home to 80 per cent species, it keeps the flora and fauna intact.

Forests are under threat. With industrialization, growing population, and fewer places, forests are being jeopardized. We are sacrificing around 18.7 million acres of forests every year. Environmental degradation is a matter of grave concern, particularly in tropical rain forests. The Amazon Rain Forest is slowly being converted into a place for cattle ranching and has lost quite a big chunk of its forest.

7. Religion/Communalism:

Refers to allegiance to one’s group rather than the whole society. Be it the Hindu/Muslim or West/South communalism has spread all across the globe. Throughout history, there have been conflicts on the ground of religion. In the process, many innocent people lost their lives or their loved ones.

There are many examples of this. For example, China against the Uighur Muslims or the violence against the Rohingya community in Myanmar who had to leave and sought shelter in Bangladesh as refugees. Coming to India, The CAA NRC debate had also led to communal clashes in the national capital.

In his book India’s Struggle for Independence, author Bipin Chandra notes down 3 types of elements to communalism. First, people belonging to the same ethnic group would have the same interests. Second, it’s called liberal communism which means a person believes in his religion, but also believes in democratic values. Third, is extreme communalism which is based on hatred towards other communities.

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8. Global Unemployment:

There is a huge disparity in unemployment between first world countries and third world countries. While unemployment is everywhere, the rate of it is more in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Globally, the tally of unemployment stands at 188 million and this number is also expected to rise. The remaining population doesn’t indicate that they are employed. Some work without pay and some have stopped looking for work.

Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the unemployment rate is expected to rise. With lockdown being imposed all around the world, the economy has come down crashing. States haven’t been able to produce revenue due to which the price of commodities has been alarmingly high. Sometimes, it is also the other way round. For example, U.S oil future prices fell below zero, for the first time in history, to settle at minus $37.63 per barrel.

Looking at it from a sociological perspective, unemployment also gives rise to drug addiction. A documentary by Vice News titled ‘Zimbabwe’s Codeine Cough Syrup Epidemic’ is one of the many examples of a strong correlation between unemployment and drug addiction. This documentary highlights the growing unemployment and simultaneous drug addiction spreading all across the country. Despite banning it in Zimbabwe, the cough syrup still makes its way inside the borders.

9. Sanitation:

The global problem of sanitation is primarily the root cause of widespread communicable diseases. Having very little access to water has often proved to be fatal. Poor families do not have a toilet, frequently end up open defecating. According to the United Nation, 827 of very poor hygiene.

The development gap between western countries and other is massive. Open defection is an indicator of poverty. Countries where open defecation is prevalent report the most number of deaths in children under the age of 5.

The World Health Organization has been taking charge of providing basic enmities to the vulnerable population. Recording statistical data, WHO also recommends the powerful countries to do their bit to combat the problem.

https://www.sociologygroup.com/10-problems-in-world/

Higher Education

12 Reasons Why Higher Education Is Important

What is higher education? Well, higher education is considered the last step in formal education. It follows the achievement of a high school diploma and generally involves the completion of a degree. Most recognized definitions explain higher education within the confines of a college or university that awards degrees, and in some cases, certifications.

The Great Debate

Questions over the efficacy of a college degree continue to challenge the higher education community. Is it really worth the investment?

A college degree is expensive. There’s really no way around that fact. If you cut away the population of students who are going full-ride, you still have a substantial number of degree-seekers who will come out of college with insurmountable debt. It’s a terrifying fact that many use as reasoning not to pursue a degree.

But, let’s take a step back and think about college education as more than investing in a future job. Instead, let’s think of it in terms of what it affords — an opportunity to transform.

The Obvious

Let’s start with the obvious — there is a serious wage gap between those with and without a degree. And that gap is projected to grow. In fact, a collective study by the Center on Education and

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Georgetown University found that people who hold a bachelor’s degree and work full-time earn 84% more in their lifetime than those with a high school diploma.

People with a college education also enjoy other benefits like health and life insurance, both of which lead to a longer lifespan. Thus, when evaluating the ROI for a college education, it’s important to look at the big picture. Over a lifetime, those with a degree simply earn more — whether that is money, benefits, or both.

The Future and AI

The job market is changing dramatically to match the growth of artificial intelligence. As technology becomes smarter and more sophisticated, companies are able to filter out certain roles in favor of automation. This means that jobs are changing. Roles that used to rely on human interaction are being replaced with artificial intelligence.

In wake of that change, there will be an increased demand in jobs that require an advanced understanding of AI technologies. Now, more than ever, it is important to invest in an education that can handle those needs. And yet, there are still other important skills to consider…

A Well-Rounded Dynamo

The job market can be very tough, and companies are actively looking for candidates with well-rounded educations.

It’s not enough to have a degree in engineering or math. Employers want their candidates to be well-spoken with strong proficiencies in communication and writing. They want employees who can deliver on their chosen disciplines, while also presenting impeccable soft skill knowledge. They want to see an engineer who has taken a couple of years of French, and they delight in finding a math major who minored in public communications.

It seems like a lot to ask for, and it is. But, the reasoning for this is actually quite simple. Companies want candidates who have a breadth of knowledge — knowledge that can serve them in any challenge. The strongest candidates are those who can demonstrate a robust repertoire of college classes, across several disciplines and structures. A college education enables students to build this complex list of skills.

Learning How to Think

Higher education isn’t just about earning a degree. If we step back and examine what a college experience entails, we can see that it is more than just attending classes and taking exams. In fact, higher education is about learning new ways of thinking and acquiring problem-solving skills.

Students are asked to reason outside of their comfort zones. They are taught to engage in critical thinking as both an individual and as a member of a classroom. In many cases, students are required to stretch their imagination in both oral and written works, often presented in front of their peers. In other words, a college education teaches students to think differently.

Outside of earning a degree, a student will graduate with new and improved skills in critical thinking, analytics, written and oral communication, and group problem-solving.

International Education

One of the more obvious benefits of a college education is the opportunity to study abroad. Though not always compatible with every degree option, most schools with strong abroad

programs are flexible in helping students pursue international study. We could dedicate a whole article to the benefits of studying abroad, but the most important takeaways are increased experience in global education, independence, language proficiency, and cross-cultural learning excursions that enhance classroom instruction.

Study abroad ranges in duration from a few weeks in the summer to an entire year, and many institutions offer special pricing for their programs. In some cases, an institution will have an established program abroad, that allows students to study at the same price of tuition as in their home campus. It is rare to have that kind of opportunity outside of a college education.

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Immersive + Experiential Learning Opportunities

Today’s colleges and universities are investing a lot of time and energy into immersive and experiential learning opportunities. The future is hands-on! Students learn best when they have outside experiences to augment classroom instruction, and immersive and experiential learning takes students into real-world settings like practicums, hospitals, and internships. Within these professional environments, students can practice the theories they learn in the classroom.

They are also given new responsibilities that, on a smaller scale, match the work environment they are interested in. Finally, students can use these experiences to test their interest in their passions. Sometimes, an internship or practicum is all that a student needs to realize they do or do not want to pursue their chosen field of study.

Research

Some colleges and universities allow undergraduate students to engage in research opportunities independently or alongside a professor. This is a huge benefit to students who are looking to gain some experience before pursuing a master’s degree, where research is almost always a requirement of the program.

In other cases, some schools actually require their undergraduates to complete a capstone or final thesis as a component of graduation. No matter what the circumstance — even if not conducted for the purpose of graduate school admittance — research teaches valuable skills in project management and writing etiquette. This kind of experience is very attractive to employers who are looking for evidence of dedication and personal discipline.

Alumni

It cannot be overstated that alumni play a major role in the future of higher education. They give back to their communities, they provide gifts to their institutions, and in many cases, they offer up a network for students who are looking to land a job after college.

A strong alumni network can go a long way in the job search, with many alumni eager to help recent graduates find an opportunity within their field of study. Some institutions even invite their alumni to come back to campus and act as panel members for upperclassmen. Students are given the chance to ask vital questions about their industry, while alumni can offer up advice, information, and even networking opportunities.

Active Community Members

People with a college education are more likely to get involved in their community. It is also true that a degree informs on more than just one’s major. Higher education explores complex issues regarding health, the environment, business, and politics.

When students are educated to examine multiple issues, across several industries and disciplines, they learn to assess today’s problems from an interdisciplinary point of view. It is that very skill within higher education that equips graduates to be more active community members and smarter voters.

Personal Growth and Independence

If we think of earning a degree within the traditional undergraduate track, we can consider a college education to be an important phase of independence and problem-solving.

Undergraduate students are inundated with pivotal changes, many of which take place outside of the classroom. Students must learn how to manage their time, how to deal with new people and roommates, how to talk to their professors, and how to navigate their new, social settings. Most importantly, students must gain the independence to make these decisions on their own.

A college education is so much more than tackling new challenges in the classroom. It’s about learning how to manage new-found independence in a way that is practical and safe.

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