What is a degree worth?
I have changed courses like random horses and I did them with atmost conviction that even chaos has some order, as does randomness flourishing uncertainty.I was particularly talking about my education although my life remains even more elusive.
I giggle at myself as to how I became a Production Engineer after specializing in Computer Science in my senior secondary. It remains even brain bare as I mastered in Finance and Systems in my M.B.A after working in an Auto ancillary for a year. Now, I want to become a journalist leave alone my affection for philosophy. My brain still dreams of becoming a global economist.
I don't whether I am confused now or was I confused earlier? Am i seeking what i really want or was i directionless earlier ?.Have experiences changed my courses or is it that, it is the natural way of life, only that I am trying too hard to blow it up.
One thing for sure I would hardly apply 10% of the knowledge I had acquired in my schooling. I shall pledge that I never questioned things in depth during my schooling or was I given the liberty to do so by my teachers, they too were grinded from the same system. I have read logarithm for so many years and it took me so many years to understand the significance of base "e".
I guess it was the same case with all the subjects which I had learned so far, right from under graduation to post graduation. The system had moulded me to recollect what was taught and religiously reproduce them in the answer sheet and still flaunt superior grades. I have now discussed the process aspect of the education.
Now, I shall dwell on the other aspect of specialized education. I don't know what sense it makes for a Production Engineer to specialize in finance and end up in equity research betraying the knowledge and skill I had acquired in the four years of education. I always seek solace that an engineer has a better ability to understand the process than a Chartered Account / Commerce graduate. It gives me greater embarrassment when I have to reveal that they are better, at least that is what my fellow colleagues in the form of CA's have taught me in the last year. It takes more of common sense to comprehend the business process and immense inquisitiveness to learn and excel.
It is really amazing to see how gold medallions/ top rankers in a particular domain choose to work in a completely diagonal field. I am not blaming them and it is not fair to do so. Isn’t it complete futility when we fail to apply the knowledge we acquire in a particular area. I can only giggle at people who start an hue and cry about IITians who brain drain our country. When are we going to realize that the brain drain disguised in non relevant profession selection. All this appetite for salary disparities would go away with the recent cross industry normalisation.Would our attitude change then?
It is shameful to know that only 25% of the engineers out of colleges are employable in jobs (including call centers).Our educational system is screwed up somewhere, are we just producing people who call speak tolerable English. Are engineers and Business graduates the only way of life? Is professional educational the only sacred society. Would there be someday when becoming an anthropologist or an historian be common?
We can give answers that professional education improves the thinking process and problem solving skills if we sideline the relevance of the knowledge. I hardly can see any path breaking inventions in India unless we streamline career with relevant application. We should focus on understanding rather than diversifying our risks in multiple domains. It is nothing wrong in being jack of all trades but it is wise to be king of at least one.
I giggle at myself as to how I became a Production Engineer after specializing in Computer Science in my senior secondary. It remains even brain bare as I mastered in Finance and Systems in my M.B.A after working in an Auto ancillary for a year. Now, I want to become a journalist leave alone my affection for philosophy. My brain still dreams of becoming a global economist.
I don't whether I am confused now or was I confused earlier? Am i seeking what i really want or was i directionless earlier ?.Have experiences changed my courses or is it that, it is the natural way of life, only that I am trying too hard to blow it up.
One thing for sure I would hardly apply 10% of the knowledge I had acquired in my schooling. I shall pledge that I never questioned things in depth during my schooling or was I given the liberty to do so by my teachers, they too were grinded from the same system. I have read logarithm for so many years and it took me so many years to understand the significance of base "e".
I guess it was the same case with all the subjects which I had learned so far, right from under graduation to post graduation. The system had moulded me to recollect what was taught and religiously reproduce them in the answer sheet and still flaunt superior grades. I have now discussed the process aspect of the education.
Now, I shall dwell on the other aspect of specialized education. I don't know what sense it makes for a Production Engineer to specialize in finance and end up in equity research betraying the knowledge and skill I had acquired in the four years of education. I always seek solace that an engineer has a better ability to understand the process than a Chartered Account / Commerce graduate. It gives me greater embarrassment when I have to reveal that they are better, at least that is what my fellow colleagues in the form of CA's have taught me in the last year. It takes more of common sense to comprehend the business process and immense inquisitiveness to learn and excel.
It is really amazing to see how gold medallions/ top rankers in a particular domain choose to work in a completely diagonal field. I am not blaming them and it is not fair to do so. Isn’t it complete futility when we fail to apply the knowledge we acquire in a particular area. I can only giggle at people who start an hue and cry about IITians who brain drain our country. When are we going to realize that the brain drain disguised in non relevant profession selection. All this appetite for salary disparities would go away with the recent cross industry normalisation.Would our attitude change then?
It is shameful to know that only 25% of the engineers out of colleges are employable in jobs (including call centers).Our educational system is screwed up somewhere, are we just producing people who call speak tolerable English. Are engineers and Business graduates the only way of life? Is professional educational the only sacred society. Would there be someday when becoming an anthropologist or an historian be common?
We can give answers that professional education improves the thinking process and problem solving skills if we sideline the relevance of the knowledge. I hardly can see any path breaking inventions in India unless we streamline career with relevant application. We should focus on understanding rather than diversifying our risks in multiple domains. It is nothing wrong in being jack of all trades but it is wise to be king of at least one.
We shall bear the tag of highly paid coolies till then.
Labels: education, India, specialisation
Sara,
Maybe one thing is true and that is: You are realising what you want to do. Earlier you did whatever people around you asked you to do.
People are made to study whatever earns them maximum money after studies. Right now, it is the BEs and the MBAs that earn the most. Courtesy: IT industry. So, right now the craze is behind those degrees.
There was a time when a Production Engineer like you or a Mechanical Engineer like you was seen as a God. That was because only the manufacturing industry was what was there during those times and only these people could earn the most.
Now the rules of the game have changed. Also, they are slowly changing towards more and more people following to do what they want to do. And there is enough space today to make a mistake and make amends and still succeed. That is what has changed.
Needless for me to comment on the "Screwed up" education system. "Screwed up" it surely is. Do we have solutions? I don't think so.
Posted by
Mysorean |
2:33 am
Yep spot on,
Of late I have atleast come to know what come naturally to me and seek a career in that lines.
I would want to speak for atleast myself, I conceded to become a production engg although I knew IT gonna rock.
I really want to challenge the question why i wanted to became a prod engg when i later found that I was more suitable for a number crunching/analytical thinking which comes to me naturally than a operational kinda of job.
To confess, i went with the fad to become a engg.I was ignorant about the opportunities in other professions.
I was immature and could not understand that it is the excellency in whatever we do that matters the most rather than the profession.I was as ignorant as the circle around me.
We produce more of generalist than specialist.
About the screwed up system, I feel we need good teachers and for that good people should take up it and for that to happen we need competitive packages.
on an average a professor earns atleast 2-3 times the avg salary of an outgoing student in the US.
In India, it is atleast 1/3rd i guess.
In engg colleges, People take up teaching if they don't find other jobs.
There are hardly any research people in academics and not it the tier -II institutions atleast. Needless to say about the depth of knowledge they possess
Posted by
Sara |
3:24 am
Hey sara i just think the market rules...whatever the markets want thats what we equip ourselves with but then its not that historians are not wanted but then they are wanted in lesser number atleast in india as compared to a good enginneer... although if u are the best historian there is no question that u will be doing much better than had u just been an average engineer...but its good that u atleast are nearing ur lakshya...but i am still searching for it :) and till the time i finish searching for it i guess i would rather be jack of all trades :)...as for improving the system..well i guess i will post on it another day :)
Posted by
Sudarshan |
5:42 am
I was lucky enough recently to listen to Thomas Friedman. Although, he is a moron, he did say something interesting.
He was India recently and was speaking to an IT company's CEO. The CEO mentioned that there are more people getting a Phd in Sanskrit in the US than in India!
I think we are creating a linear society of Engineers and MBAs. Rightly said Sara, all the innovation and entrepreneurship will come from countries in the west and they will just hire us - cheap coolies.
Posted by
Santhosh |
10:22 am
Sara:
Regarding packages for teachers going up: It is unrealistic to expect that. And am sure even you know that.
The first step in helping that happen should be a generation of people willing to sacrifice money for their profession and taking up teaching. As the quality of teaching increases there will be a noticeable tangible change in the moral and ethical structure of the society. As of now, like sudarshan says, its the market that's driving everything. In other words, its all about money. Wherever there's money the market goes there and with it go the people. Nobody is really bothered about the next generation or how they ll survive and all that. Even if there is someone thinking about that, it is the smallest fraction of people possible I guess...
Santosh:
If India doesn't innovate and kindle the entrepreneurial spirit then as you said we ll end up being the "Cheap coolies"! Well said!
And coming back to Sara's valid point about excellence, excellence in any field can be achieved provided you are first of all interested in it. So, we need to see what we are interested in to begin with!
Posted by
Mysorean |
9:46 pm
sara let me not get into your confusions.....because mine might come to fore and it will be utter chaos....but you know what...you and I have in a way shared the same kind of a career path...std 12: bio, Production Engg, 2 yrs in an auto ancilliary...MBA finance....Investment banking :) can you beat that!!!!
Posted by
Jeyamurugan DG |
2:18 am
@ aadi
May be trying to defy the truth by stating that things would affect the next generation, we are going to face the consequences in the next few years due to the lack of talent to drive the economy.
There voices to spend atleast 6% of GDP in education now that we claim ourselves to be the hub of knowledge processin in the future.
The planning commission is looking into it and there is a educational cess collected to ease things.
@sudharshan
Markets are not correct and it not always prudent to follow them as well
@santhosh
That is the best past of money & motivation to defy boundaries
@Jeyamurugan
Enna kodumaa saravanan.. same pinch !!
Posted by
Sara |
11:11 pm