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Thread ID: 93324	2008-09-11 23:57:00	Kiwi degrees 'worth less' and the brain-drain.	lightfoot (39)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
704582	2008-09-12 02:28:00	Dominion Post says that Kiwi degrees are worthless because these degrees make little differences on the job prospect and earning power. I don't think it applies in all cases. I mean if you are going to become a doctor then you need your degree. But I do think its a reflection on the mad money-driven craze for academic institutes to offer courses in everything you can imagine. Which led to nearly everything requiring a qualification now instead of the sensible method where there were apprentices and general workers just went and worked.	pctek (84)
704583	2008-09-12 02:30:00	People with a Diploma / Degree and no other skills can only judge others by the bunting they display. (A cluster of Degrees / Diplomas is a bit like the bunting on a homecoming naval vessel - ornamental and mostly worthless, but can cheer up the relatives a bit.) A Qualification does not mean a person is an inept waste of space any more than the reverse is true. I think those buntings are pennants.	Cicero (40)
704584	2008-09-12 02:42:00	The facility gets paid for issuing degrees - more degrees = $$$. The degree proves that person has a bit of paper and money has changed hands. Degrees are worth about as much as they ever were, although the holders seem to be able to get through the sausage factory a bit more easily. Basically, if you want someone good at getting degrees, those pieces of paper make a very good indicator. It is a pity the diploma doesn't show ability or aptitude, if only to save a future employer the expense of tossing a tosser. It really depends what the person took from Uni. If their sole aim was to get good grades then you're right. Lots of people take papers that challenge them as people. Most people come out far different, I'd say better, people than they went in. The actual degree itself is just a bonus as far as I'm concerned. I didn't really care much about graduating, and the only reminder that I've got a degree is a laser etching on the back of the iPod I got as a graduation present. But I got a lot out of my time at Uni. As a person, and from an educational point of view. I couldn't give a toss whether it's recognised or not. That's not why I went.	Thebananamonkey (7741)
704585	2008-09-12 06:31:00	NZ Uni degree's are absolutely useless. They teach us absolutely nothing that we'll ever use in our everyday lives and keep pushing group-work on us.	beeswax34 (63)
704586	2008-09-12 06:49:00	NZ Uni degree's are absolutely useless. They teach us absolutely nothing that we'll ever use in our everyday lives and keep pushing group-work on us. People seem to agree that Kiwi degrees are useless and these degrees are not that recognised. Why are they better off overseas, more practical, more people don't have a degree?	lightfoot (39)
704587	2008-09-12 10:25:00	NZ Uni degree's are absolutely useless. They teach us absolutely nothing that we'll ever use in our everyday lives and keep pushing group-work on us. Universities are designed to teach you how to think, so you'll find that practically everywhere. Their value lies not in what practical information you take away, but in how you process material afterwards. That's why the highest degree you can attain at most universities is a Doctor of Philosophy. Real university courses are philosophy, linguistics, anthropology, physics, and anything else that deal mostly in concepts. The amalgamation of accounting, architecture, and design schools is more a beurocratic thing than a recognition of being parts of a university. That's why most design courses are part of a "school of design" and not a faculty, because they teach solid practical work skills, and not primarily conceptual stuff. Solid practical facts are usually best to be learnt on the job anyway, as pretty much everyone does it differently. Some companies deliberately avoid hiring people who have been university trained in the role for this reason.	Thebananamonkey (7741)
704588	2008-09-12 14:58:00	The fallacy is to think of a University as a degree or job qualification factory, it isn't although politically and financially it is convenient to to go along with that idea. University funding is based on EFTS (Equivalent Full Time Students) The main functions of a University are to produce educated men and women who can contribute to the community, to act as a repository for our society's knowledge and culture and to act as a conscience for society, and most importantly contribute to the growth of knowledge through research. If one considers the status of University degrees and diplomas, the bachelors degree is merely a first stepping stone, a BA or BSc qualifies one to teach in a school and really precious little else. A MSc qualifies one to be a research assistant, but to be a research scientist one really needs a PhD. Economics - bachelors, one can teach at a Secondary School, Masters, might land one a junior lecturers or tutors post, or a job with a bank, again to be an economist a PhD is the prerequisite. A NZ BE Civil, is on a similar level to a British University ME, but to qualify as a professional engineer, one needs registration, which includes 5 years working under supervision and further exams. A medical degree, doesn't allow one to practice medicine straight out of university, there are several years of in- hospital experience and training before one is fully qualified. Similarly with Law and Accountancy to practice there are further professional studies and exams before a graduate is qualified. A university graduate should however be capable of thinking constructively in their discipline, be able to express their ideas clearly in well written English(theoretically) and have sufficient knowledge from their University education to become effective professionals with experience and on the job training.This is the benefit of a University degree. Graduates need to find an employer who recognises the benefit of a University education and is prepared to make the investment of providing practical training and experience to develop them into valuable professionals. Unfortunately, our secondary school system is failing us, students front up at University, unable to express themselves clearly in written English, in fact many are incapable of writing a few sentences without making basic grammatical and spelling errors.	KenESmith (6287)
704589	2008-09-12 21:34:00	And that folks is the world we now live in,tatts and cat dragged in hair do's included.	Cicero (40)
704590	2008-09-13 01:15:00	This is the benefit of a University degree. Graduates need to find an employer who recognises the benefit of a University education and is prepared to make the investment of providing practical training and experience to develop them into valuable professionals. It seems employers are saying NZ degrees make little differences on the job prospect and the earning. They don't give it much value. But how come overseas employers do?	lightfoot (39)
704591	2008-09-13 04:43:00	What scares me is that NZ qualifications no longer seem to be recognised, let alone respected in other parts of the world. I had a young lady board with me to finish her secondary schooling in NZ before following her family to Australia. She did that and got excellent marks. Her desire was to become a Lawyer but when she got to Aus her NZ qualifications didn’t cut it and she was told that to enter any of their universities she would have to have to qualify there or somewhere where their qualifications were recognised. When last heard of she was employed as a check out chick in a Supermarket. To make things worse I happened to watch some of NZ’s version of Who “Wants to be a Millionaire”. I was horrified when the first contestant, a Teacher, had used all her three lifelines before reaching $500. To make things worse her “Phone a Friend” was her deputy principal who was of no help. I hope like hell they never sell that programme overseas.	B.M. (505)
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