I found the fourth horseman- technology- to be particularly interesting. Anecdotally there has been widespread pushback against the use of AI tools throughout my academic experience at Stellenbosch University thus far. However, I believe that the use AI tools in the workplace to be inevitable. Therefore there should be an effort made to integrate such tools within university courses. The failure to implement tools of the fourth industrial revolution may lead to students being ill-prepared for the workforce where advanced computational software is bound to be utilized.
I was just reminded of your article when reading a developer report (on software engineering and the industry). The one highlight there is again that university (and college) doesn't prepare people for the workplace. Can we think about that more? Often these questions get asked (and statements made) as if it's a valid question (what I mean is that the question is biased, not that one shouldn't question with justification).
I loved going to university. Was it perfect? No. Will I do it again? Yes. Would I have studied for longer or would I study something again in future (assuming I may retire or just step out of the commercial environment)? Yes. I value knowledge. I value understanding. I love building things.
Will having a degree make you successful (for some definition of successful)? No, and one shouldn't get stuck on only academic qualifications. The world needs more than that. Sidenote: I wish in South Africa we can again develop trades. We either have people at the top of the pyramid (those that can afford to study or endure with big loans to do so, or those with the resources to have started something), or the unemployed. There's so much opportunity in between. My point is thus not to punt universities over everything else. It's rather that it seems to me the universities and degrees are getting dismissed more often than not. Are there degrees that are near useless from a commercial perspective? Useless is perhaps a strong term, but there are definitely less useful qualifications from that perspective.
I feel like the argument (question) should be changed or perhaps even invalidated (harsh, yes): Universities don't prepare you for the work environment. They're academic institutions. They're not technical colleges/technicons – and they each fulfil a purpose to this day. A sound academic foundation can do wonders in many ways. I never expected to walk out of university prepared for the work environment. That's why I did internships – a great privilege that helped me a lot. Capitalism (or should I say consumerism) is killing yet another advancement of the human race. Knowledge just for the sake of knowledge should be limited, because it is true that we live in a world where pragmatism is vital. We need to save ourselves on this planet, etc. It is a deep understanding of what's going on plus the practical application of solutions that will save us.
I'm annoyed by this movement to invalidate universities.
I found the fourth horseman- technology- to be particularly interesting. Anecdotally there has been widespread pushback against the use of AI tools throughout my academic experience at Stellenbosch University thus far. However, I believe that the use AI tools in the workplace to be inevitable. Therefore there should be an effort made to integrate such tools within university courses. The failure to implement tools of the fourth industrial revolution may lead to students being ill-prepared for the workforce where advanced computational software is bound to be utilized.
I'm sad to hear about the pushback at Stellenbosch, Oliver. Hopefully, that will change soon.
I was just reminded of your article when reading a developer report (on software engineering and the industry). The one highlight there is again that university (and college) doesn't prepare people for the workplace. Can we think about that more? Often these questions get asked (and statements made) as if it's a valid question (what I mean is that the question is biased, not that one shouldn't question with justification).
I loved going to university. Was it perfect? No. Will I do it again? Yes. Would I have studied for longer or would I study something again in future (assuming I may retire or just step out of the commercial environment)? Yes. I value knowledge. I value understanding. I love building things.
Will having a degree make you successful (for some definition of successful)? No, and one shouldn't get stuck on only academic qualifications. The world needs more than that. Sidenote: I wish in South Africa we can again develop trades. We either have people at the top of the pyramid (those that can afford to study or endure with big loans to do so, or those with the resources to have started something), or the unemployed. There's so much opportunity in between. My point is thus not to punt universities over everything else. It's rather that it seems to me the universities and degrees are getting dismissed more often than not. Are there degrees that are near useless from a commercial perspective? Useless is perhaps a strong term, but there are definitely less useful qualifications from that perspective.
I feel like the argument (question) should be changed or perhaps even invalidated (harsh, yes): Universities don't prepare you for the work environment. They're academic institutions. They're not technical colleges/technicons – and they each fulfil a purpose to this day. A sound academic foundation can do wonders in many ways. I never expected to walk out of university prepared for the work environment. That's why I did internships – a great privilege that helped me a lot. Capitalism (or should I say consumerism) is killing yet another advancement of the human race. Knowledge just for the sake of knowledge should be limited, because it is true that we live in a world where pragmatism is vital. We need to save ourselves on this planet, etc. It is a deep understanding of what's going on plus the practical application of solutions that will save us.
I'm annoyed by this movement to invalidate universities.