The primary goal of a university is teaching the next generation of academics. That’s it. The entire goal is teaching and research.
But like everything else in this society, it must become a profit-driven endeavour and if it doesn’t contribute with the revenue of some company, it’s not worth it.
That’s a bit OTT IMO. You don’t need to become an academic for knowledge of the world, the ability to digest information, and the ability to effectively communicate, to be useful. I think it’s valuable just as, like, life enrichment, too. Not to mention that spending the first few years of your independent adult life around people going through that same transition has other value - socialising, shared experiences, it’s not unusual to make many friends for life.
You’re absolutely correct - but what you’re describing is a learning institution in general, not a university. That’s the fundamental issue.
Universities have a very specific purpose and it’s academic. Unfortunately, our society not only shoves a bunch of commercial values in the mix, but also eliminates most of the other learning opportunities, which turned universities in this weird mix of conflicting interests and unrealistic expectations.
Is this some American usage of the word University as opposed to College that I’m too British to understand? I don’t think I quite followed your second paragraph; unless you mean that a university that doesn’t support genuine academia over conflicting interests is undeserving of the name, in which case I agree with that much… But I would say that as far as value goes, it should also have those same benefits I mentioned for those as attend it.
My age group in Canada was indoctrinated to think anything less than a university degree was signing your own death warrant job wise. That evolved into younger generations doing the same with masters and PhD programs. Now it’s even worse than it was then. I hope my kids choose wisely.
The primary goal of a university is teaching the next generation of academics. That’s it. The entire goal is teaching and research.
But like everything else in this society, it must become a profit-driven endeavour and if it doesn’t contribute with the revenue of some company, it’s not worth it.
That’s a bit OTT IMO. You don’t need to become an academic for knowledge of the world, the ability to digest information, and the ability to effectively communicate, to be useful. I think it’s valuable just as, like, life enrichment, too. Not to mention that spending the first few years of your independent adult life around people going through that same transition has other value - socialising, shared experiences, it’s not unusual to make many friends for life.
You’re absolutely correct - but what you’re describing is a learning institution in general, not a university. That’s the fundamental issue.
Universities have a very specific purpose and it’s academic. Unfortunately, our society not only shoves a bunch of commercial values in the mix, but also eliminates most of the other learning opportunities, which turned universities in this weird mix of conflicting interests and unrealistic expectations.
Is this some American usage of the word University as opposed to College that I’m too British to understand? I don’t think I quite followed your second paragraph; unless you mean that a university that doesn’t support genuine academia over conflicting interests is undeserving of the name, in which case I agree with that much… But I would say that as far as value goes, it should also have those same benefits I mentioned for those as attend it.
My age group in Canada was indoctrinated to think anything less than a university degree was signing your own death warrant job wise. That evolved into younger generations doing the same with masters and PhD programs. Now it’s even worse than it was then. I hope my kids choose wisely.