DISCUSSING liberal education and the liberal arts in this century makes us more aware of the 'tremendous impacts of massification and vocationalism, which are powerful pressures against liberal education and its disciplines. In some ways, the rise of massive open online courses (MOOCs) pushes higher education in a more vocational direction as well.' We are witnessing varied forms of liberal education and the liberal arts that go along this kind of education. The so-called liberal education we read about in curricula of various universities 'focus more on the sciences with a modicum of the humanities.' The same source notes, 'Much of the Asian region (especially China, India, Japan and Korea) is known for having highly competitive universities focused on technology and science with rigorous admissions and graduation examination systems. These characteristics conventionally hinge on an agenda of utilitarian curricula and career-oriented postsecondary training,' where only a modicum of the liberal arts remains.

Liberal education and the liberal arts. 'Liberal education boasts a long history, beginning in ancient Greece.' The term liberal originates 'from the Latin word liberalis, meaning suitable for a free man.' Liberal education is composed of the liberal arts to attain its learning outcomes. The ancient world contrasted the liberal arts with 'the servile arts, that is, what we would call today vocational education.' In Latin, the word 'arts' refers to both the arts and sciences.