OSUN Publications
Liberal Arts and Sciences Education as Pedagogy in Central Asia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to critically examine Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) education as a pedagogy (bottom-up approach), particularly in Central Asia. In the literature, LAS education is mainly characterized as an “institutional curriculum design.” Similarly, most liberal arts colleges in the region predominantly focus on LAS education's institutional design and curricula map (top-down approach). However, it should be noted that liberal arts and sciences education is not only the institutional design of the programs by providing a wide range of course selection and offering inter- and multidisciplinary courses, but it is also a pedagogy. Therefore, this research offers a new conceptual framework for LAS education. It pays attention to “liberal pedagogues” who apply liberal arts and sciences as a pedagogy in traditional classroom settings and beyond. Unfortunately, more and more universities in the region have started to design liberal arts curricula without liberal pedagogues. In this context, this research attempts to answer the following two questions: 1 Why should liberal arts colleges establish Centers for Teaching and Learning (CTLs)? 2 How do liberal pedagogues engage students both in and out of the classroom? CTLs are vital in enhancing the liberal arts and sciences educational experience for both students and faculty, and it is impossible to maintain and sustain liberal arts and sciences education without liberal arts pedagogy.
Recommended Citation
Atsungur, Görkem, "Liberal Arts and Sciences Education as Pedagogy in Central Asia" (2025). OSUN Publications. 32.
https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/osun_publications/32
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