UK: Hard to control some sacred education

There is a unique British humor that is the best possible Finding daily. They show us a lot of what we see as light as tone of voice or a raised eyebrow to. Each of these would be enough to put a scare quotes around cliché; Our photographers or promote something, and we laugh at the sudden doctrine that were once considered reliable.

Professor Robin Briggs of All Souls College, Oxford University, and an expert in this British merge comedy and light.

In South Africa, saving TB Davie education Freedom at the University of Cape Town, was flashing eyes that intoned over some sacred things usually see the sense in the world of higher education policy.

He began the story by repeating the words of former British prime minister David Blanket Education: "Higher Education generates research, knowledge and skills that underpin innovation and economic change and all people."

The point is, Briggs said, was "not bad enough" unless - and here he first time all the necessary comedy - "unless you are allergic to truisms".

From there, he went on to emphasize the importance of others', which was not mentioned corollaries to "Blanket’s central idea of ​​the 'knowledge economy', and against the narrow, especially about education that proposes.

From the point of view - that Briggs carefully qualified as "second-liberal 'but meant that the second-liberal doctrine amounted to a" much more a rhetorical political and buzzwords "- and" important work "of higher education and to make the development, ignoring the complex reality Many of the cultural activities of higher education systems.

Finally, Blanket et al of one mind, rather than serving the people better, education for the benefit individual bag.

The reduction of the University's culture broad variety of cultural activities, it becomes more companies "and direct economic consequences". University of broad education and employment They felt perfectly companies, and "work education specific claim" as the central objective.

Meanwhile, the core of the university to make the audit, it is better not leave with knowledge and can "industrial and commercial discussed", is a major downgrading of "blue skies research and everything in human beings".