They noted that universities were just factories to supposedly prep young people for work/jobs these days and that it should be about alot more. Appreciated there's the whole extracurricular side to university with many-a socials and clubs.
But I think what the
y were getting at was the idea of engagement, the fact learning had become 'prescribed' and not 'cerebral'. For instance I was talking to my old university lecturer and he used to talk about the 'old days' of his engineering education in which you could spend an entire day just fiddling with a car engine - whereas in contrast I typically was stuck in front of computers bashing out mathematical simulations.As in with a car engine you were almost left
to your own curiousity to find out how it worked - you poke and prod it, maybe change some gear ratios and the balance of the cam shafts. You could say it was almost self directed learning and more practical. But increasingly with modern education its about learning X topic for Y exam, and you did not really have a say in what you wanted to learn and how you wanted to learn. I incidently did not touch a car engine till my final year at university!As a recent recipiant of a 21st Century degree, I would have to say very little practical knowledge for the world of work was actually taught at university and there's a definite gulf between the world of academia and the world of work.
I am now a practicing engineer and appreciated learning never stops and I suppose having a 'prescribed' education helps focus on goals and targets. Though the accomodation for your own personal growth and curiousity in education should be encouraged and less dictated in my opinion.
