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from the probably-should-have-researched-this-better dept.
The World Socialist Web Site reports
[...] a former student of Anglia Ruskin University [...] is suing the UK institution for breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation.
[...] Graduate Pok Wong is claiming £60,000 compensation--her estimated cost of her university education--on the basis that her degree did not offer the "quality education and prospect of employment after graduation" claimed by the university.
This suit demonstrates the corrosive consequences of students being encouraged to view themselves as consumers entering into contracts with universities for economic advantage. The collective endeavour of learning is replaced by a purely financial and adversarial relationship between two parties, in which each is incentivised to push the other for maximum "cost efficiency".
In comments to the Sunday Telegraph, Wong explained her hopes that the case would "set a precedent so that students can get value for money, and if they don't they get compensated".
Her comments accept the principles of marketised education and attempt to leverage them for individual students' self-interest.
[...] Wong refers in her legal papers to Anglia Ruskin's claim to carry out "world-leading research". In fact, the university is ranked in the 301st-350th bracket for quality of research by Times Higher Education. A number of other institutions have promoted themselves with similar lies or distortions.
Last November, the Advertising Standards Authority watchdog ordered seven universities to change false claims about their status made in advertisements to students. The University of Strathclyde, for example, was told to change its claim, "We're ranked No. 1 in the UK" for physics. Teesside University had to stop calling itself the "Top university in England for long-term graduate prospects".
[...] in 2013, [...] replies to freedom of information requests at 70 universities found that [...] Anglia Ruskin was listed as one of a number of institutions, particularly newer ones, whose spending [on marketing themselves] skyrocketed in these years. It spent £1.76 million in 2012-13, about £1 million more than in 2010-11.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by NotSanguine on Monday March 19 2018, @07:37PM (8 children)
Education is about giving people the ability to understand the world around them generally, and more specific knowledge about one or a few aspects of the world. And to give them the opportunity (should they desire it) to broaden their horizons, helping them become better informed and better equipped to deal with our increasingly complex world.
Contrary to what Bryan Caplan argues [c-span.org] in his book, The Case Against Education [princeton.edu], education is not *just* about getting a job and maximizing economic benefit. Because, as Heinlein put it in a somewhat different context, that:
We are more than just cogs in the economic machine, and we deserve to have the opportunity to be more than that. I do agree with Caplan in one respect: not everyone needs to (or should be) be college educated. In the US, we've mostly abandoned vocational training and apprenticeships. We should move back to that model, while maintaining our university systems for those who would prosper in those areas.
This would require a pretty severe shift in the cost structures of the university systems, but I think we'd all benefit.
However, claiming that education is just a means to getting a job is disingenuous and limits the value of education. That said, schools often oversell that sort of thing and don't really promote the love of learning (and this starts in primary school, sadly).
As Ralph Waldo Emerson, quite correctly, pointed out:
Creating an environment where learning is valued, vaunted and a positive experience, starting in primary schools, would be a good start.
As for Ms. Wong, unless there was some sort of contract between her and the college guaranteeing a certain level of employment, I'm not sure she has a legal leg to stand upon.
Schools *can* provide quality education -- however, you get out of it what you put in. It doesn't matter if you go to Oxford or Stanford or if you go to East Bumfuck Community College. You get out what you put in. Full stop.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 0, Troll) by cocaine overdose on Monday March 19 2018, @08:22PM
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday March 19 2018, @08:32PM (1 child)
As a general statement I'll agree with what you said. Not sure how these transitions would work in practice, but in the abstract they are good.
I just wanted to reply to comment...
This isn't exactly true. I'd say that you'd get out *no more* than what you put in. However, it's very possible you'll get out less than you put in. If you pour your heart and soul into East Bumfuck Community College in Underwater Basket Weaving... well, don't be surprised if you end up with poor career prospects despite how much you put in to it.
It's sad, but true, that the top 1% of a no-name university (maybe even the 2nd best student) will probably face higher challenges in entering the working world than the 50% percentile student of a school like MIT or Stanford.
I don't really think that's fair... but I also don't really think it's a false statement, either.
(Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Monday March 19 2018, @09:01PM
A reasonable and generally true assessment, as far as it goes. However, it's orthogonal to my point.
I did not say that in terms of economic advancement or opportunities for networking, it doesn't matter where you go to school.
I did say that in terms of *getting an education* it doesn't really matter, as you get out of it what you put in to it.
There's a key difference between those two statements.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: -1, Troll) by i286NiNJA on Monday March 19 2018, @10:04PM (3 children)
Horseshit.
An old man like you has no place saying what should be. You ruined the world and now expect us youngsters to follow ideals suitable for the times you grew up in and wasted.
It's a savage concrete jungle now old man you don't waste time fucking around lest you and all your descendents end up at the wrong end of the economic split.
I'm sure if you write a beautiful letter to your grandchildren, explaining how you've become a man and you can cook a meal and skin your dick and do your taxes by yourself on the long form --Heinlen... well they'll understand why they had to be born into the slave caste.
Nothing kills me more than the lazy advice of the entitled generation.
(Score: 5, Touché) by NotSanguine on Monday March 19 2018, @11:40PM (1 child)
That's adorable!
Did you write that all by yourself? I'm so proud of you.
I find it especially cute that you blame me for your own misfortunes. What's more, I think you're oh so sweet for assuming that I've been entitled or otherwise had advantages over *anyone*.
Have you ever been homeless? Forced to shoplift and dumpster dive just to eat?
Have you ever had to sleep in parks or train stations because you had nowhere else to go?
Have you ever battled drug problems?
I've dealt with all three. And I clawed my way back up from *less* than nothing.
Just to clarify, I've *never* been the recipient of any form of public assistance. Can you say the same?
Don't like how your life is going? That's on you, not on me.
Don't like the way the world works? Do you do anything (besides blaming other people) to make things better?
I'm sorry that you're so angry. I'm sorry that your life has turned you into such a bitter person.
I'm sorry that you feel the need to lash out at others because you're unhappy.
But none of those things are my fault. Go ahead and feel free to blame me if it makes you feel better.
Sadly, it won't improve your life. But if it gives your pathetic existence a small respite from your feelings of failure and worthlessness, who am I to take that away from you?
I hope your life improves and you begin to understand what it is to be human. You have my pity and sympathy, friend.
No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr
(Score: 1) by i286NiNJA on Thursday March 22 2018, @04:09PM
So you grew up during the best times in America and you still struggled? Yeah please keep quoting Heinlein.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 20 2018, @02:19AM
go cry in your beer. [youtube.com]
(Score: 2) by fliptop on Tuesday March 20 2018, @02:32AM
I think it was Thomas Sowell who once said, "College is where you learn more and more about less and less until you know everything about nothing." In the case of Ms. Wong, I'd say that's a pretty fair assessment.
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.