Why a liberal arts education? Why Amsterdam University College (AUC)?

Since I will be a teacher at the Amsterdam University College (AUC) soon, which is a liberal arts college, it might be good to clarify the purpose of a liberal arts education. I like the following quote from Covey for that purpose:

"It is extremely valuable to train the mind to stand apart and examine its own program. That, to me, is the definition of a liberal arts education - the ability to examine the programs of life against larger questions and purposes and other paradigms. Training, without such education, narrows and closes the mind so that the assumptions underlying the training are never examined. That's why it is so valuable to read broadly and expose yourself to great minds."

Stephen Covey, in "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People".