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parent: Educational standards: USA/Europe/College+

Re: Educational standards: USA/Europe/College+ by JohnnyG on 2004-02-08 20:47:20

Let me start from the beginning on this entry and explain why I'm typing. Here in Austin TX at the engineering building we employ many foreign nationals to construct the next generation of microcircuits. The human primates I associate with from Great Britain/Germany get together at places such as "The Continental Club" and "La Zona Rosa". We speak about our uni experiences and what the whole educational process from our country of origin did for our brains. The comments made by these co-workers and friends has been entered into my personal journal. I only seek more commentary from you fellow taters as to your experiences in higher education. Specifically you Brits. This entry is absolutely NOT about proving academic superiority between any country or institution. Ok. Ok then. Comment my friends.

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Re: Re: Educational standards: USA/Europe/College+ by Kid on 2004-02-10 12:43:53  |  Reply to this

I found that the educational experience is coloured very much by the people who seek to give the education. I got on well with a lot of my lecturers, and they taught well, and - thus - I got a lot out of it. However, some I didn't get on quite so well with, and found it all a struggle. If there were no interaction between teacher and pupil, there would be nothing to inspire, really, as once one reaches university level, one ought to strive to acheive something. The best people to give inspiration are those who have already acheived in the field. (In my opinion). Educationally, then, it can be hit or miss. However, life experience (which didn't enter your question) makes university (for me) something I would encourage everyone to partake in. From being lumped in with a load of people you don't know, to spending 3,4,5 years with them, getting a whole new life made - its all a wonderful, ahem, personal growth. I think, anyways. Again, if I'm all wrong on my answer, let me know. Re: Re: Re: Educational standards: USA/Europe/College+ by JohnnyG on 2004-02-10 22:45:10  |  Reply to this   Allright is my response Kid. Yes, the experience factor is a good thing and so I say too right. Difficult to analyse quantitatively but good nonetheless. I was lumped into compulsory courses in which the redneck population of Texas seemed to overwhelm the professors discourse with questions such as "you sure that Santa Anna fella was a Mexican cause I thought he was shit kicking Spaniard", also "How do I know the difference between a derivative and an integral in this here set of equations". What a humiliating way to spend a few hours Kid when the folks around you spoke of the process in which "souse" was made (essentially head cheese, if you know what that is). Looking back now it seems to have added to my cultural awareness but at the time it seemed pretty close to intolerable. Thanks for the input, it helps to quench my curiosity in the matter. Re: Re: Re: Re: Educational standards: USA/Europe/College+ by Missy M on 2004-03-01 13:26:28  |  Reply to this   I went to a small Arts and Humanities college in London,UK. I dropped out in the 2nd year because I had next to no support. I had 8 hours of contact per week, 4 in lecture situation with a staff:student ratio of maybe 1:70, and then 4 hours in seminars (more like 1:12)- we had no 1:1 time as the college chose to divert all funding into its creative arts programme and I was studying English. I had next to no money, was quite ill, and nobody ever explained what I was supposed to be doing. I guess that sounds whingy- but the drop out rate for my course was stupidly high bearing in mind it didn't require much to get on the course in the first place. We all hated it. I feel robbed by my university; I'm not thick and I should have been able to get a degree. I've been signed off sick ever since I left and am still heavily in debt.