[ILUG] OT: A university degree is required. Why?

[Kuda Dube]

We tend to talk of a CS degree as if there were a single standardised 
one. There are several types of CS degrees and IT degrees which produce 
completely different types of "animals". The quality of the product of a 
particular CS or IT degree also largely depend on the individual. There 
is not as much homogeneity in acquired skills and quality among the 
products of CS & IT degree programmes as we would find  at the end of an 
industrial production line. The heterogeneity of computing skill levels 
exists among CS & IT degree graduates as much as it does among 
non-degreed, self-taught and industry-groomed IT or computer 
professionals. The issue is about the method of measuring the computing 
skills, quality of those skills and other desirable skills within the 
shot span of time available during the recruitment process of a company. 
Possession of a degree is generally the minimum standard measure into 
which the nation's tax payers have invested into. There is no standard 
measure for skills acquired during a self-grooming/self-teaching process 
occurring outside the formal system although we all know that there are 
many gurus out there who have even surpassed what universities and 
colleges can produce. The logical thing to do is for those of us who 
believe that we've acquired high-level skills in a particular area to 
formalize those skills through acquiring a proven qualification, e.g., a 
degree or diploma, in the area. I see no logic in undermining national 
investments in the form of degrees unless we have a good solution to 
replace the problem that they solve.

---
Kuda

Rory Browne wrote:
> On 5/5/06, Brian Foster <blf at blf.utvinternet.ie> wrote:
>>
>> | From: Kae Verens <kae at verens.com>
>> | Date: Thu, 04 May 2006 11:53:12 +0100
>> |[ ... ]
>> | I remember fuming about one graduate of a computer
>> | science degree that asked me for help starting her
>> | computer.  Turned out she'd left a floppy disk in,
>> | and the computer couldn't get past that to the OS
>> | on the hard drive.
>>
>> what, please, is the connection between the person having
>> a degree and not diagnosing the problem?   I totally fail
>> to see the connection here ....   no ;-)'s
>
>
> you would hope that the person with the degree in cs would understand the
> operation of a computer, and understand the boot sequence
>
>
> we can test this.  if a person doe NOT have a degree, does
>> that mean the person would diagnose the problem?
>>
>> my hypothesis is NO.  presuming I am correct, I conclude a
>> degree is not relevant to the example.
>
> which I think is his point - the fact that the cs graduate had a degree,
> didn't necessarly mean that she knew or understood the practical 
> operation
> of computers.
>
> This is like he was saying - "A degree doesn't mean an awful lot", and 
> you
> argue back "A DEGREE MEANS ABSOLUTELY SFA".
>
> Try to think about what you're saying, and evaluate your 
> understandinjg of
> other peoples points.
>
>
>
>  so, I ask again,
>> what is the connection?
>>
>> very puzzled,
>>        -blf-
>> -- 
>> Experienced (20+ yrs) kernel/software Eng: | Brian Foster   Montpellier,
>> • Unix, embedded, &tc;  • Linux;  • doc;  | blf at utvinternet.ie   FRANCE
>> • IDL, automated testing, process, &tc.   |  Stop E$$o (ExxonMobile)!
>> Résumé (CV) http://www.blf.utvinternet.ie  |     http://www.stopesso.com
>> -- 
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> -- 
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