Collecting Qualifications

I firmly believe that our generation will become one of the most educated in recent history.

As people finish their under-graduate degrees they face an inhospitable working environment. Whether justified or not, employers are less likely to take chances and strive to cut costs on the labour front. The prospect of trying to earn a living in this atmosphere is truly terrifying to many students and they are increasingly choosing to take further studies. Applications for MA programmes will grow exponentially as a result.

But is this a positive trend? While padding a C.V. with qualifications is of course a good thing it comes at the expense of real experience. Businesses will naturally look to minimise the risks inherent in employing applicants. Experience in a field allows an employer to accurately assess these risks. This is certainly different than the generally abstract skills and theoretical knowledge we gain at college. In short, while qualifications are essential it is the ability of a person to apply this knowledge to everyday life that gives value to an employee.

However, these negative effects are only temporary. The current "economic climate" is a transient situation that is already recovering in many places. When we all survive this situation our qualifications will very quickly become experience. This will benefit us both individually and collectively as a high-end labour force will place us at the fore of the increasingly lucrative research and technology industry. Ultimately, this temporary set back will have a positive effect on every aspect of our lives.

We may just be collecting qualifications now, but soon these qualifications will mark us as one of the most educated work forces this country has ever seen.

-The English Student

College Essays

In my last discussion, I highlighted the problems created by college newspapers. Similar patterns can be observed in relation to college essays.

Upon entering the English department earlier this week, someone remarked that I was becoming an essay writing “machine”. This idea stuck with me and it is only now that I have fully understood the connotations of such a statement. The college systems absolutely encourage the creation of mechanical essay construction. In effect, we are given the input values of a title, word count, relevant texts and a due date and expected to output an argument.

But this cold and calculating method of composition inhibits real creativity and diversity. Students simply go through the motions of writing essays and never feel the desire, or indeed are given the time, to develop and impart their own personal views. I understand the practical necessities of these essays, but through them students are effectively being made into hacks before they even leave college.

There are simple solutions to these problems. If the due dates of essays were spread out adequately, time would be afforded for real engagement with these questions. In addition to this, when lecturers allow students to create their own essay titles and bring in external material, they encourage a personal approach to assessment. The system is not so much broken, as it is in need of some delicate tweaking.

In this way, the passion and love a student has for a subject can be nurtured and developed into a viable life tool.

-The English Student

College Newspapers

Does frighteningly alarmist journalism begin at a collegial level?

My university has two main newspapers that are freely distributed across campus. One of these papers seems to have a degree of real engagement with college life, the other however, is ridiculously removed from all concepts of reality. In fact, many people are beginning to wonder if any semblance of journalistic integrity can be found at all.

Unlike any writer for this paper, I am actually going to qualify this extreme opinion. Upon opening the last two editions of this paper, it becomes quite obvious that they have an intention to perpetuate alarmist rumours that only serve to create an idea of the evil, homosexual, foreign terrorist. It seems that we are always seconds from disaster and that these people are just biding their time before tearing down society around us. Of course, these insidious rumours are hardly put out in the open, but are subtly referenced in articles through tone and language in order to implant ideas unnoticed.

Perhaps I am being too harsh on a newspaper that was initially set up to counter their university sponsored adversary. In fact, the paper does have some interesting pop culture sections in every edition. But there is a very good reason that the Student's Union recently stopped funding this paper, such "journalism" only creates enmity and fear where we need unity and courage.

I do not call for censorship of such papers, just wisdom on the part of their readers.

-The English Student

Re-Introduction of University Fees

Recently, the topic of 3rd level fees has arisen once more in public life.

With the media consistently creating fear of a looming recession, people (and government officials) are naturally looking at all areas of the country in a bid to cut back public spending. It became apparent quite recently that one particular 3rd level institution is fifteen million euro in debt as thing stand. When this is coupled with the increasing pay rises given to university staff, it is very obvious that some reform is necessary.

A flat rate of payment for college students is not the answer. This would simply populate our universities with high income students and close the doors to others. Instead, the government should look at the income of students when they leave college and charge a certain percentage of this figure as payment to the university they attended. This would provide substantial income for the colleges and prevent anyone going into debt during their student years.

As a student, one could easily assume that I am fully against the re-introduction of these fees. Indeed, were they to come back, I would be unable to pay them and would have to rely on student finance from the government and banks. But even with this in mind, it is not so difficult to see the necessity of at least some form of fees.

If we are to be charged for our education, it should at least be when we can afford it.

-The English Student