Universities should be more than toll gates
7 hours ago
- #university critique
- #education
- #self-directed learning
- Universities in the Middle East often prioritize credentialing over education, with students valuing dorm life and campus freedom more than classroom learning.
- The German Jordanian University exemplifies this, focusing on rote memorization for exams rather than deep understanding, despite being one of Jordan's top universities.
- Jordanian engineering programs are longer than in the US or UK, often including irrelevant courses like 'Military Science,' which do little to prepare students for the workforce.
- High unemployment rates in Jordan (21%) suggest the education system may be keeping people out of the workforce longer without providing meaningful skills.
- The author's experience in Germany revealed a stark contrast, where students and professors were passionate about learning, highlighting the potential for education to be engaging and meaningful.
- The author rediscovered a love for learning through self-directed projects in computer science and game development, finding joy in the process rather than the outcome.
- Despite the frustration of forgetting details and feeling overwhelmed by the breadth of knowledge, the author embraces the joy of continuous learning and aims for financial freedom to pursue lifelong education on their own terms.