Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton spoke Friday at the Pyle Center on the importance of a liberal education in today’s economic climate.

The Association of American Colleges and Universities defines “liberal education” as an approach to learning that “provides students with broad knowledge of the wider world … as well as in-depth study in a specific area of interest.”

Representatives from 14 of the UW System schools met in Madison Thursday and Friday for a conference about the importance and usefulness of a liberal education.

Lawton discussed the Liberal Education and America’s Promise initiative, which advocates this type of learning. She said a liberal education leads to skilled and qualified workers and Wisconsin must retain these workers in order to keep the state economy “vibrant.”

“As we all know, if we look at the outward migration of Wisconsin’s college graduates, they’re flowing to Minneapolis and Chicago at great expense to the state of Wisconsin,” she said.

Lawton said bright, knowledgeable, adaptable employees with a liberal education are highly sought after in the job market.

She also said one problem with promoting liberal education in Wisconsin is the word “liberal,” because people are often scared of the weight and activism the word conveys.

According to Lawton, future economic challenges are too great and surviving difficult economic times both nationally and in the state will require bright, well-rounded, educated individuals.

“Education and skills slowdown is the biggest issue facing our country that is looking to drive its way out,” she said. “This is a challenge that will shape the destiny of our nation, and it certainly will as we think about what we are going to do in Wisconsin.”