A Paradigm Shift in American Higher Education

A Paradigm Shift in American Higher Education

Before the foundation of University of Pennsylvania, institutions of higher education in the United States aimed to train clergy. In 1740, the predecessor of University of Pennsylvania was established by Benjamin Franklin. He advocated that higher education should emphasize practical application and cultivate innovative students, which is different from the mission of old institutions, that is, training priests.

University of Pennsylvania was the first academic institution in the states to open math, history, English, and agriculture classes, which revolutionized American higher education to initiate the modern higher education. The changes made by the University of Pennsylvania tremendously impacts the development of future American higher education. For example, these courses are common core courses in almost every university. Other than the changes of courses, the real paradigm shift is the mission and spirit of American higher education, moving from training priests serving the church to cultivating creative students who can apply knowledge to facilitate the development of individuals and of society as a whole.

University of Pennsylvania was the first academic institution in the states to open math, history, English, and agriculture classes, which revolutionized American higher education to initiate the modern higher education. The changes made by the University of Pennsylvania tremendously impacts the development of future American higher education. For example, these courses are common core courses in almost every university. Other than the changes of courses, the real paradigm shift is the mission and spirit of American higher education, moving from training priests serving the church to cultivating creative students who can apply knowledge to facilitate the development of individuals and of society as a whole.

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