I was pleased to read your editorial supporting the liberal arts (Oct. 13) in contrast with Gov. LePage’s call for a more practical, career-based education with less arts and humanities. In today’s complex global economy, we certainly need more focus on science and engineering-related disciplines and other professional programs, but young people today must also learn the requisite skills of the arts and humanities.

Young professionals in any discipline must be skilled as writers and speakers, critical readers and listeners, analytical thinkers, and they must have a global mindset and appreciation of other cultural values.

At the University of Rhode Island, we have proven the value of an education focused simultaneously on the “hard and soft skills” through our International Engineering Program (IEP) which leads over five years to both a BA with a major in a foreign language and a BS in an engineering discipline. IEP students spend the entire fourth year in Europe, Asia or Latin America as exchange students at partner universities and professional interns with partner companies.

With the benefits of both a professional and a broad liberal education, graduates are in demand. Employers today are seeking young professionals who can design and manufacture in cross-cultural and multidisciplinary teams, explain themselves effectively both orally and in writing, understand their role in a global context, and demonstrate an eagerness to go the extra mile.

Economizing by cutting arts and humanities programs is short-sighted and insensitive to the pragmatic value of a liberal education.

Rather than eliminating such programs, the debate should be about how best to strengthen and integrate them with other disciplines across the curriculum. A 21st Century education includes the benefits of both the professional school and liberal arts curricula.