I’m glad to see this getting exercised – because I think that the media have got the wrong handle on Google’s comments (or perhaps I have got the wrong handle on the initial statement). As a recent graduate from NUIG (4 years) and more recently an entrepreneur/employer (2 years) in the software/IT sector I’ve seen first hand the argument that Google put forward.

I have no doubt that graduates deserve the grades they are achieving – walk around the library or the reading rooms and you will see the level of commitment students are giving to their education. Not to mention the fact they have just completed a marathon that we call the Leaving Cert immediately before their 3rd level days.

Graduates need to be less book smart and more trigger happy. They need to think on their feet, solve problems and be willing to take risks to overcome obstacles. I think the current format has lead to a highly educated spoon fed type of student that has a huge mental capacity but an in-ability to apply this in a physical way.

Exam papers are highly predictable, tutorials are available in abundance and course projects are so pre-defined that there is little scope for self exploration.

I think each student should be required to conceptualise their own final year project (where one is required) and be graded based on innovation and execution. Good students will swim, poor students will sink (and let them sink!).

I conceived my own FYP and I now employee 4 people and find myself innovating on a daily basis to survive. There is a correlation.

In my opinion the “good student” should demonstrate examples of independent thought, motivation and innovation. Show that they are a “do-er” and not a “talk-er.” And maybe throw a curve ball at a potential employer – who said a CV had to on paper/PDF?!

Keep up the good work!

Paul

Thanks…I’ll need to make the RSS thing more accessible: the button is the image at the top right of the page, which should bring you to

http://www.aidankane.net/feed/

Aidan