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> Universities ... are just squeezing out the last juices from the dying industry. I agreed up to this point. Can you say more what you mean? University educat

by sago 8y ago

> Universities ... are just squeezing out the last juices from the dying industry. I agreed up to this point. Can you say more what you mean? University education is a dying industry? What about the massive and growing legislative requirements for degrees in all kinds of occupations?

turtlecloud 8y ago
I would say the advent of the internet has really changed how information is valued in society. Prior to this universities were places where critical thought and an discussion of new ideas could be formed. The current situation is that it is more like institutions whoring out their brand names instead of fostering minds (Harvard lol) In the past, the universities did well by mere fact of self selection since most people didn’t need college degrees to do well. Only the intellectually curious ventured in. What I imagine happening later is that things will turn more into a guild model. Where you must have a certain level of competence / reputation to join.
manfredo 8y ago
This comment was probably specifically referring to universities specifically in the US.This is probably more specific to the US, where university was historically a means of socializing and networking for the sociopolitical elite and has since turned into an indicator of class or status. A lot of people are going into university because that's just what middle and upper class people do - a lack of a university education imparts a big cut in terms of status. Legislative requirements for degrees means that someone needs to study for 4 years (most of which will be on topics unrelated their job) otherwise they're locked out of employment options. People are forking over tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars mostly because society expects them to. I think more and more people are realizing that the benefit of a university education isn't very good for the cost. Don't get me wrong, it is a positive return on investment, but it could probably be better structured as a vocational school for most people. If my parents didn't pay for my education, I probably would have tried doing a coding school and going directly into the workforce. I learned a lot of cool stuff in university, and attending a prestigious school opened up many opportunities. But most of the former was irrelevant to my job, and the latter is basically just an elaborate means of signalling status (which, while it definitely helped me I fundamentally don't think it'd be fair to hire a university grad simply for being a university grad if a non-grad as the same or better skills).

by sago 8y ago

turtlecloud 8y ago

I would say the advent of the internet has really changed how information is valued in society. Prior to this universities were places where critical thought and an discussion of new ideas could be formed. The current situation is that it is more like institutions whoring out their brand names instead of fostering minds (Harvard lol) In the past, the universities did well by mere fact of self selection since most people didn’t need college degrees to do well. Only the intellectually curious ventured in. What I imagine happening later is that things will turn more into a guild model. Where you must have a certain level of competence / reputation to join.

manfredo 8y ago

This comment was probably specifically referring to universities specifically in the US.This is probably more specific to the US, where university was historically a means of socializing and networking for the sociopolitical elite and has since turned into an indicator of class or status. A lot of people are going into university because that's just what middle and upper class people do - a lack of a university education imparts a big cut in terms of status. Legislative requirements for degrees means that someone needs to study for 4 years (most of which will be on topics unrelated their job) otherwise they're locked out of employment options. People are forking over tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars mostly because society expects them to. I think more and more people are realizing that the benefit of a university education isn't very good for the cost. Don't get me wrong, it is a positive return on investment, but it could probably be better structured as a vocational school for most people. If my parents didn't pay for my education, I probably would have tried doing a coding school and going directly into the workforce. I learned a lot of cool stuff in university, and attending a prestigious school opened up many opportunities. But most of the former was irrelevant to my job, and the latter is basically just an elaborate means of signalling status (which, while it definitely helped me I fundamentally don't think it'd be fair to hire a university grad simply for being a university grad if a non-grad as the same or better skills).