A7

Jay Rawdling
Commentary

Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

4 Comment(s)

The word university means "an institution of learning of the highest level." You would be hard pressed to find words like "economy,-career," and "skills" in most definitions or sources. Yet, to use the Telegraph's vocabulary, these are the "buzzwords" that flow from the PSE reports, and now, conveniently, are being used in the newspaper too.

Naturally, a prospective university graduate hopes to land a career in his or her field of interest, but the overriding concern remains: under the banner of "being accountable," what criteria will the government use as justification for a program, course, or department to continue? Will it be enrolment numbers? The cost of the course? Or, as is feared, its relevance to an existing workforce need?

Attacking university presidents and faculties ("Freedom and Responsibility," July 16, 2008), the editorial board of the Telegraph-Journal asks, "Has public funding helped New Brunswickers secure meaningful careers?" This is an excellent question, but should not be converted into blame as to what offerings universities do or do not provide prospective students. Securing "meaningful careers" only applies if a student opts to create some kind of self-employment upon graduation (since opportunities for meaningful post-university careers are currently lacking).

Thanks to chronic underfunding, fewer university graduates have been able to remain within the province's university system (to become future professors, for example). The exodus of graduates from Saint John to find university-educated opportunities will grow if the province remains unable to offer careers for students seeking employment in fields of interest outside of energy hubs. Will the non-trades-based jobs that past, present, and future university students have been waiting for ever be created? If the intent is to be "student-focused," and to prepare New Brunswick students to contribute to the province's economy, then desirable jobs must be available for both college students and university students, not solely the former.

And so we return to "university," an unspoken word for months and months at a stretch by the actual minister of post-education (even then, it was a "university presence"). While we waited for comments - or even basic discussion - on this important word, UNBSJ suffered damage on public relations, financial, and enrolment levels, for which no apology or compensation has been offered.

When Mr. Doherty was finally forced to release the latest PSE report, less than a fifth of the estimated required budget was allotted to the entire PSE system. According to the T-J, those who oppose this announcement are indicting themselves. How this can insultingly be compared to "not settling for anything less than a blank cheque" escapes me.

No one doubts our colleges are in need of support; however, the post-secondary education minister announced that he refuses to have any further consultation on a subject which, frankly, he has yet to openly discuss. Surely the role of our universities and of a "student-focused" university education deserves examination. The editors at the Telegraph disagree, dismissing the arguments raised by the university faculties.

Perhaps, though, it's their own faculties that require further examination.

Jay Rawding is a student at UNBSJ.