"Today, certifications like the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert, and the Red Hat Certified Architect certificates are sometimes worth more to an employer than a four-year degree in computer science." Um, no.
Or at least, I think that in fact higher education is completely in step with business practices, it's just that those business practices are also outmoded. Especially the insistence that everyone work in a office ("tethered to a place"), fit into rigid hierarchies, job descriptions and roles ("the experience is closed"), sign NDAs, non-competes and closely guard intellectual property ("each student/employee is isolated though surrounded by peers").
It's ironic that Deming is referenced at the end, because he was all about building quality, no matter how hard, long and laborious that is, and I think this article is all about scare tactics driving quick fixes while protecting the people in positions of power and the hierarchy they've built. The goal is obviously to make higher education more like job training, which is going to make it easier to fit people into cookie cutter roles that are even easier to ship overseas. "The World is Flat?" Please.
Another article missing the basic point that university is not supposed to be a preparation for the workplace (as much as employers might wish it to be), it's a preparation for life.
If you train for a job, you're not doing a degree, you're doing an apprenticeship.
An MCSE is useful for a couple of years. A degree is useful for your whole life.
I may not totally agree with Certifications replacing Higher education but education is changing for sure, people who are not seeing it are either closing their eyes or are refusing to accept reality(Colleges i am talking to you).
Today's generation is certainly more rebellious than previous generation, they are questioning everything that is not right and ready to change it. Colleges are suddenly becoming obstructions( I am not talking about all the colleges here but most of them). This generations wants everything on-demand be it entertainment or education. Now if you are telling them, Rebel against RIAA but not against colleges(apples and oranges). To them, both are obstructions in the path of what they want. They want knowledge which can give them practical results and they have just found a medium(internet) where they can obtain it. What colleges are telling them now is learn Quantum Physics or Organic Chemistry, you might use it in the future. It is like telling, Learn how to use a Gun, your country might be invaded sometime(that should be taught in Middle Eastern colleges though).
We all know the purpose of colleges, They prepare you to face real world and secure your future, they are unable to do that currently. I have hardly met any Hackers, who got their hacking skills from college(Everyone has self taught himself with the help of a new medium). So if currently people are becoming successful, it is in spite of higher education not because of it. We have seem lot of successful people as example too, who have done really well without higher education( Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Michael Dell). The phenomena of more successful people without higher education will only be more common now.
Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. - Bill Gates
I think you're confusing the high profile exceptions (Jobs, Gates, Dell) with the rule. I think you're generalizing based on your own experiences, which aren't necessarily representative of the whole.
Higher Education, and education in general, used to teach values. There is so much cynicism (much of it warranted) that this no longer works like it used to. But this is also one of the key differences between a substantive education and trade school.
Or at least, I think that in fact higher education is completely in step with business practices, it's just that those business practices are also outmoded. Especially the insistence that everyone work in a office ("tethered to a place"), fit into rigid hierarchies, job descriptions and roles ("the experience is closed"), sign NDAs, non-competes and closely guard intellectual property ("each student/employee is isolated though surrounded by peers").
It's ironic that Deming is referenced at the end, because he was all about building quality, no matter how hard, long and laborious that is, and I think this article is all about scare tactics driving quick fixes while protecting the people in positions of power and the hierarchy they've built. The goal is obviously to make higher education more like job training, which is going to make it easier to fit people into cookie cutter roles that are even easier to ship overseas. "The World is Flat?" Please.