[LINK] The Corporatisation of Tertiary Training

[David Lochrin]

On 2020-10-26 09:24, Roger Clarke wrote:

> One concern is that the degree is a "collaboration", and "verified by AWS Educate" - although, the students, after paying for the degree, may have to pay more to AWS afterwards, because "students in the degree won’t automatically receive certification from AWS".

If I remember correctly, a rather similar situation arose on the release of Windows-7 when Microsoft declared that all existing "Microsoft Certified System Engineer" qualifications had become invalid, presumably because the new O/S had a different technological base.  I presume the erstwhile students had paid for their piece of paper, and were required to pay again for a new one or bin it.

> The biggest issue, however, is that the statement that the students are to "gain skills and first-hand knowledge of AWS’ product development methodology" gives rise to a serious risk that students won't get general principles and standards-based approaches supplemented by exposure to several different proprietary tools, but will instead themselves be tools of AWS's market domination strategy.

IMO the most important requirement of a tertiary qualification in any area is to teach ~understanding~ and critical thinking, the rest is just button-pushing.

Can Linkers imagine AWS or any other corporation educating students in the limits and inherent problems in their pet "product development methodology"?  And what value will another corporate employer attach to an AWS education?

David Lochrin