Topic 1: Does increasing travels between countries enable people to learn different cultures or to

Topic 86: Nowadays, some universities offer graduate students skills that assist 
them to find employment, but some people believe that the main function of 
university should be to access knowledge for its sake. What is your opinion? 
There is an upsurge in practical knowledge in these years and people have seen many 
education courses being totally work-based. The idea that students should apply theory to 
practice or even focus on practice only has become widely accepted. In my opinion, 
schooling should be designed to prepare children for real life, rather than underlining the 
academic aspect only.
There can be little doubt that the main purpose of providing university education is to 
assist young contenders to begin and pursue their future careers. The hypothesis that theory 
and abstract conceptual knowledge are important lies in the fact that they are the 
fundamentals of tertiary education, but· without bridging theory and practice, education will 
possess little value and receive much less support from the public. 
A university should place its emphasis on vocational training (or career education), which is 
directly related to a specific trade, occupation or vocation. It is particularly true when many 
well-paid jobs require intense use of technical skills.
Aside from theoretical knowledge, universities should assume the responsibility to 
enhance, diversify and consolidate the skills students can possibly use in many life situations. 
Life skills refer to a wide range of skills necessary for successful living, including 
recognizing other people's feelings, setting realistic and attainable goals and employing 
problem-solving strategies. The university can devise its curriculum to achieve these 
outcomes. For example, by organizing sports and other physical activities, the university can 
help students enhance their team-building and leadership skills. Meanwhile, team 
assessments can be designed to facilitate students' group discussion and improve information-
sharing skills. These skills, when taken together, enable students to put their potential to the 
maximum and to apply the knowledge dexterously.
Meanwhile, as education is widely accepted as the foundation of society, emphasis 
should be placed on the relationship between education and economic success. Education is 
sometimes considered useless because it leads learners away from practicality and distances 
them from real life. To tackle this problem, educators are required to restructure the 
curriculum to suit the emerging trends in society. A good example is that if some industries, 
such as retail, tourism and information technology, are projected to have good prospects, 
educational institutes should generate skilled workforce for those industries, thereby giving a 
boost to the employability of young contenders.
As suggested in the above discussion, the role of education is to prepare young 
generations for paid work. Vocational education or training should be integrated in the 
curriculum, in an effort to make students productive members of society.
1. Underline=underscore=emphasize=highlight  
2. Contender=aspirant=applicant=candidate
3. Bridge=link=connect=join
4. Trade =craft=line of work=occupation=profession
5. Assume responsibility=take responsibility  
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6. Consolidate=strengthen=secure
7. Assessment=examination=appraisal
8. Dexterously=skillfully=adroitly=proficiently=adeptly
9. Distance=dissociate=detach=separate
10. Workforce =worker=employee=personnel=labour force   
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