Changing trends in education
May 30, 2007
SIR — My concern as a university lecturer is about career guidance and the future of our children. I have noticed that in Uganda many students are interested in the traditional courses like Medicine and Law. However, students here in the Netherlands and other developed countries are now opting fo
SIR — My concern as a university lecturer is about career guidance and the future of our children. I have noticed that in Uganda many students are interested in the traditional courses like Medicine and Law. However, students here in the Netherlands and other developed countries are now opting for courses which create jobs.
A case in point is the Bachelor of Industrial Fine Arts, also offered by some universities in Uganda. This course is growing in competition every academic year. It has topped the most competitive courses in many developing countries and this competition is also growing in Uganda. A study in the United States also reveals that the course is one of the most competitive and successful today, based on a survey carried out each academic year to rank the best and lagging courses.
The report known as “America’s Best Graduate Schools†is described as “the best tool to make the right choices†and can be purchased online for only $14.95. In spite of this many students still think that traditionally ‘good’ courses are still the best! If developed countries with the best job opportunities are now switching to “job creator coursesâ€, what about Uganda which has no resources of absorbing the thousands of job seekers produced every year?
At Matville University, Industrial Fine Art is the second most competitive course only surpassed by Medicine and Surgery. This has proved to be the trend in Europe and the USA. Below is an article published in the United States this year: “...This year’s university and college programme rankings are based solely on the results of institutional assessment survey. Institutions were asked to rate the academic quality of programmes on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding).
Scores for each school were totalled and divided by the number of institutions who rated that school. The response rate was 87 percent....â€
The included institutions received the most nominations from survey for their excellence in a given specialty and the competition for the course generally both pre- and post-university time.
The top three courses were Medicine and Surgery, Engineering and Industrial Fine Art. this was outstanding and thrilling for a course like that to top the rankings!
It is time the government realised the trend education its taking.
Michael K. Kakooza
School of Business Studies Matville University
The Netherlands
A case in point is the Bachelor of Industrial Fine Arts, also offered by some universities in Uganda. This course is growing in competition every academic year. It has topped the most competitive courses in many developing countries and this competition is also growing in Uganda. A study in the United States also reveals that the course is one of the most competitive and successful today, based on a survey carried out each academic year to rank the best and lagging courses.
The report known as “America’s Best Graduate Schools†is described as “the best tool to make the right choices†and can be purchased online for only $14.95. In spite of this many students still think that traditionally ‘good’ courses are still the best! If developed countries with the best job opportunities are now switching to “job creator coursesâ€, what about Uganda which has no resources of absorbing the thousands of job seekers produced every year?
At Matville University, Industrial Fine Art is the second most competitive course only surpassed by Medicine and Surgery. This has proved to be the trend in Europe and the USA. Below is an article published in the United States this year: “...This year’s university and college programme rankings are based solely on the results of institutional assessment survey. Institutions were asked to rate the academic quality of programmes on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding).
Scores for each school were totalled and divided by the number of institutions who rated that school. The response rate was 87 percent....â€
The included institutions received the most nominations from survey for their excellence in a given specialty and the competition for the course generally both pre- and post-university time.
The top three courses were Medicine and Surgery, Engineering and Industrial Fine Art. this was outstanding and thrilling for a course like that to top the rankings!
It is time the government realised the trend education its taking.
Michael K. Kakooza
School of Business Studies Matville University
The Netherlands