"In feudal times the aristocracy had sent their sons to university, conferring superiority on the institution. Nowadays it was the other way round: the university conferred superiority on the man". - Ursula K. Le Guin, The Dispossessed.
Most of us go to the school, college and the university and graduate. What is the proof that we have graduated? There is a certificate which is issued certifying that the student is graduated. Do we really need the certificate, do we need someone to certify that we are capable of so and so skills and techniques.
Wikipedia explains the meaning of diploma as, 'A diploma (from Greek δίπλωµα díplōma, meaning "folded paper") is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a college or university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree'.
We must agree that certificates are important. But at most of the places we see that things are driven in the university and college which target the exam and certification. This scenario does not give importance to the linkage of education theory and practice. The transactions in the classroom should be in a way that the students are able to link the theory to the actual field practice. The students should be able to analyse and synthesize things.
In most of the places it is observed that the students register for the course at college or the university. They attend limited classes or in some worst scenarios they do not attend the class at all (The case of distance education could be discussed separately). They somehow manage to get through the exam and get certified. In this scenario the houses of knowledge, that is the universities become mere licence issuing authorities.
We expect the universities to help create experiences for students which will help them to connect theory to practice, academic to research, and research to industry. Through which the universities are able to really contribute to the well being of Nations and the society as a whole.
"Come on let’s see the degree.”
Katherine unrolled her scroll displaying a long declaration in Latin affixed with a red seal proclaiming her a Master of Art.
“Imagine working for years to obtain a piece of paper we can hardly read ” Katherine joked.
“And to officially declare you have talent ” Suzy returned.