Amid the rising costs of higher education, an increasing number of people have begun to question the value of a traditional university degree, arguing that online skill certifications and hands-on work experience are the true keys to career success. Yet others maintain that the critical thinking and systematic knowledge cultivated by a university education cannot be replicated by any short-term training. Should the core purpose of a university education be to directly serve the job market, or to shape independent thinkers with deep intellectual grounding? Please elaborate on your viewpoint and support your stance with concrete examples.
