I’m struck this week by how dysfunctional higher education is. Between the article on the ruin of Cooper Union, the article on the USC MFA class dropping out from last week, and my discussion with classmates from abroad it honestly seems like the system will be broken no matter what. I spoke with Juan Jose and Francesca, both from Peru, who described a system of public universities that are very cheap, but often on strike. Students who want to go to a good school end up attending private universities. Adi was also part of the discussion. She’s from Spain, but went to school in the UK. It was interesting to hear her contrast the Spanish system with the UK.
After all that discussion, it really made me feel better about the US system. There is a lot that can be improved, but it seems like every system of higher education is not without its own systemic problems that governments, universities, and companies are trying to solve. Everyone is grappling with issues of public v. private schools, job training v. education for self betterment, access for poor students, and scam institutions.
Interview Notes:
Juan Jose, Peru – He went to a private university, he chose that one because only one other member of his family had been to university and it was that one. In Peru people can create universities without good teachers and you get ripped off, with a worthless degree. A new trend is that CEOs and companies are make technical universities, and training people for positions within their companies. There is less of a culture of learing things that do not seem to have job utility than in the US.
Adi, UK & Spain – There is a difference between here and england, there you can study whatever you want because it’s cheap, and it’s still a respected degree. In Spain private universities are much more expensive, but easy to get in. Public universities are cheaper, but harder to get in because there is more competition. Public schools have good reputations. There isn’t as much respect for the arts in education in Spain. Adi always had to leave Spain because there are no resources for the arts, thus the study in the UK and US.
Francesca, Peru – You know your going to a private school, you only go to a public university if you can’t afford a private one, or if you want to go to a school with a speciality. If you’re not going to specialized school you go to a private school. Usually you study five years. School is very tied to social life, status etc. School cost depends on where you went to high school. There are price tiers. Most students go to public uni which are terrible and often on strike. You know that your parents will pay, you don’t need a loan and won’t have to pay for it yourself. Good grades alone get you in, you don’t have to worry about admission as much.
General discussion:
US degree brands have a huge value abroad. A degree from a prestige US university will almost guarantee a job. This is different form prestige schools in the UK, the degree is respected but you need to be good too. People from Spain who study abroad tend to stay abroad. Often there’s no resources or support system to go back to, but because they don’t go back there’s no resources for others. Peru has a scheme that pays for school if you come back, if you teach for two years, and then stay 2 years in the country. Also, the government makes you come back as soon as your course is over. There is no visa grace time.
In peru education of any kind is still a privilege. In Spain it is expected that you will go to university, public or private.
Interesting survey of very different education systems. I’m curious, did you probe on the cost structures and complaints of the various systems, or is that what the interviewees chose to focus on un-prompted? I found my interviewee didn’t bring up cost until I did, as it was so much less of a concern/barrier than in the US.
I asked about the cost. They were focusing on the social factors of who goes to a public school versus a private school and I enquired about the price difference between the two.