Abstract

In the ‘Asian century,’ Asian liberal arts education is bucking the trend of its counterpart in the US, and is on the rise. This article considers the case study of one substantial faculty of liberal arts in Indonesia, in order to contribute to our understanding of this important phenomenon. Within the broader question of what constitutes Asian liberal arts, this case study considers the specific issue of what lecturers themselves think they are contributing to, as members of a faculty of liberal arts. An analysis of interviews with this whole department of 46 lecturers suggests that they draw on distinctive sources of information, and arrive at three main emphases in their understanding of what constitutes liberal arts: 1) proficiency in general knowledge and skills; 2) cultivation of spirituality; and 3) integration of Christian faith and secular vocation. The lecturers also hold in common the values of student interaction and university-wide cooperation in the pursuit of liberal arts education. Given that lecturers play a key role in the enactment of educational curricula, understanding their own assessment of liberal arts is an important component of understanding liberal arts in Asia.