Access to Information and the Role of Universities in the Age of the Internet
Since the dawn of the internet, anyone with a connection has been able to access the growing collection of knowledge created by humanity. Whether that is from books, research papers, or other sources accessible over the internet, access to knowledge has never been so free and unfettered. I would like to argue that, due to the (almost) unrestricted access to information, the role of universities is reduced. Before the widespread use of the internet, it was expensive and challenging to access information, and universities were largely the only place one could gain specialist knowledge. Now, with the advent of Sci-Hub and LibGen, anyone can access virtually any book or research paper at no cost, instantly. This will revolutionise learning, and enable lifelong learning (which will become more important as changes, such as artificial intelligence developments, cause rapid changes to the employment landscape).
In the future, I think universities must change their purpose from being heavily focused on teaching to credentials - the approval of a person meeting a defined standard. Platforms like EdX and Coursera will make this easier, allowing the asynchronous delivery of teaching programmes. Governments should push these programmes more heavily, as they are highly affordable and easy to deliver - perhaps governments could fund these programmes as an alternative to university courses. With many companies reducing their own education programmes, including apprenticeships, there has been an explosion in the number of people attending universities across the world. While this has improved equality and accessibility, there is the risk of devaluing degrees. In countries like the United Kingdom, with more than a hundred universities, degrees are heavily widespread with more than 50% of the population now attending one. This results in not just the devaluation of degrees, but the wasting of many people’s time. Yes, degrees teach highly transferable skills in research and analysis, but there are probably quicker, cheaper, and better suited ways to learn these. Education authorities should push these - there isn’t a binary choice between university and apprenticeships.
Essentially:
- Universities should offer short, specialised courses that are highly accessible
- Education authorities should promote other further education routes that aren’t just university-based programmes
- The access to information and knowledge is so widespread today that employers should not rely on a piece of paper from a certain education institute. Take risks, don’t just pick people based on their credentials - everyone has an interest and willingness to learn.