The founders and partners of ECOLAS believe that by renewing the European liberal arts tradition during the bachelor phase, students will be equipped with the right tools to pursue a more specialized master’s program or to enter the professional world. Ultimately, they will acquire the necessary skills, tools, and solutions needed for tackling issues and problems of the twenty-first century.

Liberal arts and sciences students are first and foremost trained to:

• cultivate a broad and interdisciplinary education as well as acquire a depth of knowledge in a specific area;
• develop a passion for life-long learning;
• think analytically and critically;
• approach issues from multiple points of view;
• communicate effectively;
• solve problems efficiently in collaboration with others.

The liberal arts and sciences teaching philosophy presupposes that a combination of curricular breadth and curricular depth is the best preparation for a more specialized master’s program or for incorporation into the labour force.  As students are introduced to a variety of subjects from different academic disciplines and explore their relationships they acquire the essential academic skills necessary to approach areas of specialization from an interdisciplinary perspective. Thus, a liberal arts and sciences education offers the ideal basis for students to cultivate an open and critical mind, enabling them to cooperate within a globalizing, multicultural society and workforce.

A liberal arts and sciences education flourishes best in an environment that fosters mutual respect and understanding. Close interaction between students and teachers provides the appropriate context for LAS learning and is indispensable for student success.