Creativity and spirituality in higher education : the case for inclusion

Within Australian higher education, activities associated with creativity and spirituality are largely pursued in institutes separate from mainstream, secular universities. Creative arts have been pursued in vocational and liberal arts institutes, and spirituality in specialist theological institutes. However, both fields of activity enhance the goals of higher education. It is argued that both should be pursued within mainstream, secular universities to enable cross-disciplinary research and healthy lifelong learning. Such practical, theoretical, and research-focused inclusion is critical for the well-being of higher education because expressions of, studies of, and research into creativity and spirituality within higher education provide vital human resources for individual and community flourishing.