Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ A Tech Talent University?

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

Alex Usher responds to an op-ed in the Globe and Mail where Sheldon Levy, interim president of University Canada West (UCW), discusses a UCW white paper (28 page PDF) proposing (in Usher's words) "there should be a university entirely devoted to the techsector, which involves a lot of work-integrated learning and the participation of firm representatives on committees that design and modify curriculum." Usher's four questions boil down to two good ones: why focus on the tech sector, rather than tech skills? And why not a polytechnic, instead of a university? But more, to me, this illustrates the issue that arises when industry designs education: it serves its own interests, rather than the students'. And that's why the education sector needs to be arms-length from industry, in my view.

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Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

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Last Updated: Nov 21, 2024 2:58 p.m.

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