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ONE OF THIS Government’s favourite sound bites is the creation of an innovation economy. As a recent graduate, this ideal bears little resemblance to my experience in the classroom.
I returned to university in September 2012 to study for an MSc in Human Rights. I had gotten consistent feedback from recruiters that a master’s qualification was fast becoming a job requirement, rather than an optional extra. After an undergraduate degree, four unpaid internships and five years of employment, I followed their advice and returned to college. My tuition cost €7,000, which I self-funded.
I was very disappointed by the quality of education I received.
Generally, lecturers are academics first, whose interest in teaching is secondary. Classes were primarily workshop-based, though the reliance on lecturing was strong. The focus was not on engaging with the subject, but completing the curriculum quickly and succeeding in the exam. While my knowledge of human rights grew, it would have been just as educational (and far less costly) to read a dozen good books on the topic. I was one of the many thousands of students to pull up to an Irish university, deposit their money and walk away with an empty qualification. My master’s education was, essentially, a box-ticking exercise.
That’s not to say that I learned nothing. Juggling part-time work and a full-time course made me adept at managing my time. I learned to speed read vast quantities of information without missing the relevant facts. My written argument skills improved. Along the way, I met committed staff members and encountered pockets of innovation occurring within the system. Unfortunately, such initiatives were the exception, rather than the rule.
I engaged with my coursework and got good grades, but ultimately left feeling short-changed. It saddens me that the greatest benefit I got from my master’s was the opportunity to leave Ireland. Completing full-time education made my eligible for a year-long visa to the United States, where I now live and work.
The innovation the economy requires skills that cannot necessarily be taught in the classroom. Skills such as problem solving, relationship management and creative thinking are at a premium, and remain largely ignored by the formal education system. While I would not advocate that we throw out the books and focus entirely on internships or project based learning, I do believe that universities can do more to offer students a more holistic education suited to the knowledge economy.
One could argue that universities provide a platform from which students can develop these skills on an extra-curricular basis through involvement in college societies, student politics or volunteering opportunities. But those opportunities are limited to those with the time and financial resources to pursue them. I, like many students, worked part-time to fund my studies which left little time for extra-curricular activities.
Ireland is striving to build a knowledge economy, in which education and ideas are the foundation upon which the next level of prosperity are built. Universities and employers must realise that old teaching and assessment methods are no longer an adequate barometer of a student’s ability to contribute to society. The taxpayer funds the university sector to the tune of €1 billion per year. Understandably, much of the debate has focused on how best we can fund our university sector. Equally though, it’s time that we questioned the purpose and quality of education on offer. As students, it’s time that we raised our expectations of what a college education can be.
Clare Herbert is an Irish writer, living in New York. Her work can be found at http://www.clareherbert.com. Follow her on Twitter: @clareherbert
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Nice to see a young intelligent person with vision entering government for a change.
She’s FF, a long, lucrative career at the expense of the taxpayer awaits as she tows the party line.
I’ve seen Lisa talk to the public before. She is composed, intelligent, and knows her stuff. Easy on the eye is a nice addition as well
Throughout the election there were a number of candidates who used repealing the 8th as part of their manifesto knowing full well that their parties probably won’t have a referendum. Now they’re elected it’s the whole ‘it’s not me, it’s my party’. They knew exactly what they were doing all along.
Sorry for butting in on this article, for some strange reason the Journal won’t let me post the link, you need to go to Facebook and read Lynn Boylan’s post in relation to Water Charges…. Direct from Brussels, we have been lied to by FG,FF,and Lab, but its not to late we have until the 22 March….
If she’s intelligent why didn’t she join a party that shares her views. FF is a big club for opportunists, where achieving power is more important than campaigning with those who share your principles. There are almost no policies where everybody in the party agrees.
James – Her family probably are FF, or maybe FF have helped her, her family, or area. Who knows. Doesnt matter really
James, no person in any party agrees with everything that may be part of the parties policy.
FF vote on various pieces of policy at Ard Feis, some agree, some oppose.
It’s called democracy.
Again it’d like her to explain the test for rape!
Peadar, you’re forgiven..
i have seen the article it clearly shows we have been lied to again and again and again by FF FG LABOUR
The restricted abortion she is discussing is an Irish solution to a real problem. It’s abortion in very restricted circumstances…. a perfect fudge for spineless politicians who can say they have legislated on one hand but made it so restrictive that in reality it is unworkable. The truth is many hundreds of women make the journey to England each year. Provide the choice and let grown women make up their own minds. It’s not as if these abortions won’t happen anyway.
@Deborah, when assault victims aren’t believed because they don’t look bruised enough, it’s going to be impossible to prove rape in a timely fashion… which is probably what the anti choice, anti abortion supporters want.
**ALERT**
Fine Gael and Labour’s lies have been blown out of the water.
They lied that our exemption was gone. It’s not but it will be if you do not wake up now…
March 22nd is the deadline to notify the EU commission that Ireland will not be charging for water by meter.
It is imperative that pressure is applied now or it will be too late..
You MUST contact your local TDs and inform them of this deadline and that you demand the Water Basin Plan to be withdrawn so that it may be amended to reflect the outcome of the election.
Failure to do so will guarantee that you will end up paying those water bills…
Well actually her family are all FG. I’ll have you know
I wonder why she didn’t make that clear before the election..
She signed the NWI pledge which included supporting repealing the 8th
Well then she is supporting the wrong political party ff is the political end of the church and also she said on vb that she will be standing against appealing the 8th she speaks from both sides of her mouth proper ff
Lisa should have joined a more modern party then those church lovers ff they are stuck in the past that lot
Church lovers perhaps, but mostly just know where their core vote is – Werther’s Original Munching, craw-thumpers.
Looking forward to your articles on those TDs that are pro-life.
Wonder why she’s in FF?
I am no fan of FF but lisa is right. Just think all you Men abs Women out there if you were raped by an individual who maybe mad as well as someone who has no respect for women or your wife Daughter Sister whoever is carrying a child who will not survive in the womb. Or the worst your Father or brother or any member of your Family uses one of you siblings as a he would his wife, put yourselves in their place and ask yourselves could i have a child after going through that experience. I am anti abortion but if any of these things
happened to me i would Abort.
And remember we are not in the minds of these Women.
Von..bang on,it’s disgusting to think that these people play with women’s/families lives,all in the name of what.
Von, how are we women supposed to prove we’ve been raped in order to have the abortion? No rape trial – IF the case even goes to trial wou.d happen in less than 24 weeks.
You don’t need a trial to prove rape
I’m pro choice in certain circumstances. This is about equality, choice and self autonomy for our second class citizens. But it’s a moral issue, and morals transend humanity, so hopefully people will leave their religion out of their decision making process on this one. This new TD at least is thinking progressively.
Who are our second-class citizens?
You knooooow
The vaginally abled.
Daisy..feminist I guess.
Ding ding ding!
What gave me away?
You forgot the dong. .
Never!
Her tune will change quicker than a thin whistle on cocaine. Once the snout is in.
You can see the party genes flowing through her.
Pure Fianna Fail DNA.
Already a safe pair of hands.
A long career in politics awaits her.
Could she be the beginning of a new FF dynasty?
As a country we need to have a conversation or discussion on the issue. I’m sick to death of politicians coming out with this shite. The time for talking is over, we need action. Let the people decide.
We need to have a conversation or discussion. The time for talking is over. Brilliant.
just small debates will do, feels like aeons at this stage, like how many rapist’ss unwanted children roaming the streets at the moment? makes me sick!
I’ve seen enough unwanted neglected children in my life time, and I’m in my twenties. it really is the greatest show on earth…
So you want to find these rapists’ children and kill them?
HAVE YOU SEEN THE NEWS FROM LYN BOYLAN IN BRUSSELS RE WATER CHARGES SHE HAS BLOWN THE LIES THAT FF FG AND LAB HAVE BEEN RAMMING DOWN OUR THROATS OUT OF THE WATER PARDON THE PUN
Wtf did I not just read ?
What has this got to do with the above story or repealing the 8th amendment?
With respect to the newly elected TD, this is NOT news, Fianna Fáil have repeatedly stated their non position on #RepealThe8th. Today we see Praveen Halipanaavar recieve a “settlement ” , what has changed? How many more women since Savitas death have been forced to seek terminations out of this state. IMO the decision must lie with us the people, not on the whimsy of politicans. Referendum NOW
Oh well, if you’re uncomfortable with it Lisa, we’ll just continue to ignore the hardship of thousands of Irish women who must leave the state to access a safe, necessary and common place medical procedure. Forget about the discomfort of pregnancy or the strains of forced parenthood. We wouldn’t want you to feel uncomfortable about other peoples’ lives now would we.
“Whether you be in favour of repealing it, not in favour of repealing it, [and] if you do want to repeal it, what kind of services do you want afterwards? They’re questions that, as a country, we need to have a conversation about and answer those questions.”
I’ll leave that to the scientists thanks.
Disgusting filthy religions. GTFO of my ovaries.
oh yeah red thumpers, who needs science when your got the spiritual beings in the funky frocks!!
FYI there is no god(s).
*you’ve got
on a lighter note, I found this mock website, http://www.landoverbaptist.org/news0203/childpurchase.html
religion has illogical demands. separate the superstitious clap trap from the state!
You got a story to tell….
Blah blah blah I’ll say what you want to hear Fianna Fáil
Was pretty sure I saw her assert this by an election clip some time ago I could well be wrong, either way fair play to her. Whichever way you feel about the subject collective views on important issues are stupid.
When asked in the debate from Castlebar before the election wether or not she was in favour she wouldn’t comment. Amazing the difference a week can make our our strong minded politicians frame of thought.
It’s almost as if she wants to give each TD a choice. You could possibly say she was….pro choice?
Seriously though, this is the bog standard pro choice line in its purest form. Do what you think is right and allow others to do what they think is right.
Lisa, you are a young newly elected TD. Did your elected ask you to propose the repeal of the 8th Amendment? I doubt it! Did FF set you up as a Guinea Pig?
Murder is always murder! Killing an innocent baby is always murder? Be sensible . Don’t follow the Leader! Don’t allow them to set you up?
Well articulated Lisa about 8th ammendment …watch this space Lisa Chambers has hit the ground running. She is beautiful,intelligent, very well thought out and well spoken. She is measured in her responses and pragmatic. Could we be looking at first Female Leader of FF.I think so.
SHe can spout all she likes, BUT at the end of the day she will be told to follow party line ,and what way to vote such is the curse of party politics in Ireland ,vote the way your told or else you are out ,
have your say