[LINK] Aussie Higher Ed

[Jan Whitaker]

At 09:24 AM 20/07/2013, Glen Turner wrote:
>Let's not forget that people's passion isn't usually as wide as even 
>a discipline. So these tables can very much understate the value of 
>particular world-leading courses. For example, aboriginal 
>anthropology at Flinders.
>
>Finally, these tables say nothing at all about your experience as an 
>undergrad student. How bad is course enrolment and other encounters 
>with university administration? If you have to punt a due date, how 
>understanding are the instructors? Are the instructors engaging? Do 
>you as a undergrad even get access to the researchers who put the 
>university near the top of the league table (eg, are undergrads 
>invited to research seminars)? What is the anticipated career path 
>for their students (ie, does it match your plans)? What if you just 
>can't grasp a concept, how much help do you get?

Good points, Glen. Choosing a university is a complex matter and, for 
most people, which one you choose is irrelevant in the long run 
unless it is a really obscure field AND you are genius material, 
which doesn't fit many people. IMO, emphasis needs to be on learning 
how to learn and taking responsibility for that instead of the spoon 
feeding of 'school'years, becoming a critical thinker, seeking out 
information, recognising and analysing problems. You can really do 
that anywhere if the educators you come in contact with are 
self-aware on those levels. Are those things measured on those league tables?

The other reason I really don't think it makes any difference where 
you go to school is that careers change so often over time as people 
gain experience in the world. One may even shift into an entirely 
different domain and then through maturity change levels of 
responsibility that has nothing to do with where you went to school. 
But even if you stay in the domain, say accounting, commerce, 
education, medicine, undergraduate prep is just the entry point. I 
guess your choice of uni may have an influence on which grad school 
you get into. I don't know how the Australian system works, but 
Diplomas and Grad certs seem to be readily available.

Here's a controversial idea (that isn't original with me):  emphasis 
on university in the modern era came about because of the 
recession(s) in the 70s to remove people from the unemployment 
figures and delay even more boomers being added to the workforce. Discuss.

Jan



Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
jwhit at janwhitaker.com
blog: http://janwhitaker.com/jansblog/
business: http://www.janwhitaker.com

Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or 
sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth.
~Madeline L'Engle, writer

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