Madam, – Dr Florence Craven seems to have several fundamental misunderstandings when it comes to both lecturers and academia in general (January 10th).
Some lecturers are overpaid and under-worked, as are certain personnel in any company or industry, and I would like to see them go as well. The vast majority are principled, hard-working and enthusiastic.
Dr Craven’s point about high unemployment rates among graduates being proof that there is no communication between universities and employers is a nonsense.
Every university and higher education institution has regular contact with industry through industry liaison groups, through external examiners, and through programme review processes.
In any event, at a macro level, the purpose of higher education is not to be instantly responsive to the ever-changing whims of industry. They may work with them, but are not there to serve their every need.
Regarding students’ ability with grammar, I can only note that in my experience students entering third-level education from second level already have a generally poor grasp of both grammar and spelling. This means that now, at third level, lecturers are expected to teach second-level grammar and related material to students who should already know how to spell and use apostrophes. The problem lies not at third level.
It is true to say that contract lecturers get the bad end of the stick, but it is a further nonsense to suggest that these are the only ones accountable in university departments.
Occasional climbs to the ivory tower are part of academia. It helps maintain a sense of purpose, sanity and objectivity in a work environment increasingly pressurised by so-called economists and other decriers of a system which has in the past created a very fine reputation for Ireland abroad.
Reform in universities may be required, but it should be reform driven by principles and not by populist shrieking. – Yours, etc,