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Post by heidie on Feb 14, 2011 13:16:57 GMT -1
Looks like he is studying sociology Westie,in ma book that sais it aw!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2011 18:30:52 GMT -1
Indeed. I'd love to know what he's studying. (I used the word advisedly in his case). He seems to be completely oblivious to the actual state of graduate employment.... has swallowed the "employability" bullshit and propaganda spun by the overpaid non-academic dweebs in the "careers service", hook line and sinker. It would be interesting to know the proportion of unemployed grads coming out of the 'redbrick' unis as opposed to the ones that used to be cried colleges of technology. Also the difference in unemployment (or minimum wage employment) across the different disciplines. We are absolutely besieged at work with uni undergrads desperate to volunteer for work placements; currently have 5 on rotation plus a long waitlist. Many go back for PhDs or Masters to give themselves an edge on the CV, rather than for love of their subject.
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Post by westender on Feb 14, 2011 20:54:52 GMT -1
Pleased to report a large volume of correspondence within the Herald letters page on this - especially about the propsect of messing with DACE. And especially from this bloke, Dr Tom Steele, in the Dept of Education - his letter today quoted in full: "I was appalled to learn that at short notice the Senior Management Group of Glasgow University will ask Court to decide whether adult education should continue to have a place in the university (“Glasgow University plan to axe courses”, The Herald, February 9). That the university should consider such a move displays how far it has slipped from the virtuous concept of a university that has been its motivation for well over a century.The idea that the university should be culturally centred in the community to which it owes its existence seems to have been replaced by a shabby commercial model, masquerading as astute business sense, in which the idea of turning a profit overrides all strategic decisions. That the university needs to balance its books is not under dispute, but not at the wasteful expense of its core principles. It is great irony that the idea of a university’s civic responsibility was pioneered by Glasgow’s former distinguished principals, the philosophers Edward Caird, Henry Jones and Hector Hetherington at the turn of the last century and by Alexander Lindsay, a former Professor of moral philosophy at Glasgow who subsequently became vice chancellor of Oxford University. All were leading figures in advancing the democratic idea of the university as an agency responsible for extending higher learning to its public, and especially in widening access to working people. Their energies both here and at Oxford were instrumental in the success of the Workers’ Educational Association in bringing higher education to ordinary people and cementing the idea of the university as the possession of the whole community and not merely a wealthy elite. It is no exaggeration to say that the Glasgow illuminati significantly altered the direction of British universities in the 20th century in this sense.That the university of Caird, Jones, Hetherington, Lindsay and, for a time, R H Tawney should now consider terminating its adult education provision, of which it should be justifiably proud, is a sad betrayal of this tradition of a democratic intellect and of the university’s civic responsibility to the people of Glasgow, which it could well live to regret.The Senior Management Group at Glasgow University should immediately withdraw such ill-considered proposals and instead, in this time of advancing educational privation for ordinary people, debate how the university’s range and commitment to its community could be vitally extended once more." Dr Tom Steele, Senior honorary research fellow, School of Education, University of Glasgow. ***** HEAR HEAR sir, bloody well said. I couldn't agree more. He couldn't be more right. Thank god there are still some academics out there who are still prepared to stand up for something. Most of them are too scared of repercussions from the bloody beancounters, and too unaware of the strength of feeling among their peers; everyone has had to become so bloody blinkered and specialised... allegedly for the good of their department.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 14, 2011 21:32:53 GMT -1
I have to say that talk of disaster is probably catastrophising (and yeah, it IS a word, Westtie! ) Seems to me there's a whole lot of umbrage being taken before a decision has been. If efficiencies REALLY have to be made then yeah, every department should take their share. I suspect though, what we're seeing in the medja is a concerted campaign by self-interested lecturers. Strikes me it's a bit like the recent Ayrshire council announcement that they were considering a four day week for schools. That was NEVER under real consideration, just scenario-planning, completely amplified by the media. Likewise I have absolutely no doubt that ACE will continue, although perhaps with some judicious efficiencies. Those that scoff about arts disciplines, do you approve of sociology topics being taught at ACE? What about writing comedy scripts? Is that course relevant in any way to Glasgow Uni?
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