Everyone wants to believe that they’re at
University for a reason. Whether it’s
based on having the perfect ‘uni-life’, finding a detour around the ‘real
world’ or looking for a good education, all students have one key purpose – to
learn. But is what you’re learning relevant?
A popular YouTube video made in 2010, simply titled ‘Amazing Statistics’ claims that the top ten in-demand jobs in 2010 didn’t exist in 2004, and that “we are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist.” With the rate at which technology is changing, this video claims that, “for students studying a 4 year technical degree, half of what they learn in their first year of study will be outdated by their third year.” When this video was played at the 2011 University of Wollongong Discovery day, it triggered concerned responses from prospective students, and I myself questioned the relevancy of a university degree that could be obsolete within 3 years time.
With technology constantly evolving and
impacting the ways we live and learn, many students in technology-based fields fear
that their early subjects will be irrelevant by the time they graduate. Is it
true that the information taught to computer science students is outdated by
the time they enter the workforce? Will the programs used by digital media
students be obsolete by the time they graduate? Well, it depends how you look
at it.
According to computer science student Sam Wighton, “some subjects or whole degrees may become irrelevant.” Though specific taught information is in a constant state of evolution, Sam argues that the basic skills he has learned will continue to assist him in the future. “One of my subjects didn’t teach me a single line of code, but taught me the mentality that is needed to code well. It is subjects like this that will keep a degree relevant until we retire.”
According to computer science student Sam Wighton, “some subjects or whole degrees may become irrelevant.” Though specific taught information is in a constant state of evolution, Sam argues that the basic skills he has learned will continue to assist him in the future. “One of my subjects didn’t teach me a single line of code, but taught me the mentality that is needed to code well. It is subjects like this that will keep a degree relevant until we retire.”
Though many workplaces require these kinds
of university qualifications, speculation continues to arise as to whether
degrees such as computer science and digital media are even required. With
skills in software development and training on design programs acquirable on
the internet, some would argue that a university degree is ‘just a piece of
paper’. Sam Wighton finds it to be much more than that, believing that the
skills he has learnt are not purely technical. “The actual content I learnt
might be irrelevant,” he says, “but the ideas, styles and the way I have learnt
to approach problems will be and is very relevant.”
With this in mind, should universities stop
teaching key technical skills in first and second year subjects? Should they
introduce fast-track courses to keep up with technology? Well, the reality is
that technology will always catch up, and as humans of the 21st century
we will always live in a digital world. In this case, is it worth having a
degree in a technical field at all?
I’ll let you decide.
‘Amazing Statistics’ – Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGGYIw_pIj8
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