Entries RSS · Why Universities work and Self-Study doesn’t
Just briefly, as the only reason I’m standing is due to the fumes of caffeine, rather than a good night’s sleep.
I just finished going through the Lesson’s Learned blog post on “The Principles of Product Development Flow,” which I think is an excellent review of a book that I does not seem to be on public release yet for us Europeans. Well, you could order it from Amazon.com.
I’m fascinated with things like lean manufacturing, total quality management, agile development, etc. Basically, product development, which Eric enticed me with, as it’s the crucial link between invention and commercialisation (aka the definition of innovation).
That said, product development is something that you best learn in university and not (just) from a book. Several reasons:
- anyone can say that they read a book
- there are no tests at the end of books, no accreditation for you.
- it’s a singular view at a problem, while in a course you (hopefully) get presented with multiple views
- you equally don’t have your peers or teachers to discuss problems and solutions with.
- And, the most important reasons of all, a good university provides a link between theory and application, by providing you with opportunities for doing internships and/or jobs.
None of this is sadly provided by books and is why I feel that reading a book on product development and management will only help someone actively engaged in this activity and/or doing a study in this field.
That said, I think that those are all areas where bloggers, authors, companies, and educational institutes can do a lot about improving the system of learning and particularly the link between learning and application.
Just my point of view, I’d love to hear yours.
Vincent
(Picture courtesy of sinesoflearning.blogspot.com)
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Tags: applied learning, learning, reading, school
Books, Business intelligence, Clusters, Education, Entrepreneurship, Internet, Public policy, Web-services, innovation, user-generated content
i think that if you had schedules you can expire them. Most people need motivation and to go to the university is one, besides when you go to the university you can make friends an have relationships whith other students.
Your assumptions are contributed to by cultural misconception.
Do you you really think;
a) Universities are not the only place where one can make friends and communicate?
b) It is not possible to receive video lectures, constructive input, corrections, from technical people all around the world without having to step into a university?
c) Every rich and successful person went to university first?
d) A 'university like' culture can only be found in a university institution?
University qualifications may be better recognized in the community, but has the community looked at all the failures and problems manifesting globally (in culture, and in business) and asked themselves a big question; Have university graduates been a contributing factor to failures?
I also recall a adage..
“YOU CAN EDUCATE A FOOL, BUT YOU CAN”T TEACH HIM TO THINK.”
Have a great day.
Thanks for asking so many questions. Clearly the answer to most of them is mostly, you're right. However, to start with the last statement first, of whether the community has looked at the failures. Of course they have, but so, one would assume, have universities and are, I hope, responding to it with better systems to educate people. Also, while I would clearly prefer businesses to have their own educational programmes, the reasons that this isn't happening as often as we like, is because there is a lack of resources to do this. And that is why universities are the institutions that they are.
Optimally, none of us would need to go to university (or school). Fact remains, that many people do and some people benefit tremedously from it. And other people don't and benefit tremendously from that. I would call the those “self-made men and women” more exceptions to the rule though.