Wendy Pavey’s Post

"𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒆𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒚, 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒈; 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒅𝒐𝒎 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒖𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆'𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔." How do you see the function of education in today's world? 🌐💬 📍 Education as Industry: ↗ Focuses on enrollment rates, ROI, competitiveness. ↗ Driven by market forces and economic outcomes. ↗ Emphasizes skills for workforce readiness and economic growth. ↗ Policies shaped by economic demands and global market trends. ↗ Measures success in terms of economic impact and job placement rates. 🎻 Education as Instrument: 🔰 Personal growth and societal development. 🔰 Holistic development: critical thinking, creativity, empathy. 🔰 Global citizenship and sustainable solutions. 🔰 Fosters innovation, resilience, and lifelong learning. 🔰 Empower individuals and bridge socio-economic gaps. ⚖ Balancing Perspectives: ↗ Harmonious blend where economic viability supports human potential. ↗ Prepares students not just for jobs, but for life's challenges. ↗ Empowering Educators to nurture both economic competitiveness and humanistic values. In today's rapidly evolving world, how we perceive education profoundly impacts its role in shaping our future. 🎓

Higher education is not just about skilling and a university is definitely not a training centre. Period! While training centres are absolutely important, the purpose of higher education is polarly different. Higher education should aspire to create able and ethical global citizens, who can help create a more sustainable, equitable, and just world. By equating education with skilling, policymakers are doing the greatest disservice to humanity. Mind you, the unhindered progress of technology has rendered many skills redundant. Thus, there is no reason to believe that any skill, however valuable it might seem, is timeless. It is the ability to adapt and learn new skills that sets a successful professional apart. The rare brand of higher education that not just teaches skills but also inspires a nuanced consciousness and awareness of the larger ecosystem can make learners truly master the essential skills of unlearning and relearning. 𝐍.𝐁. This photograph was clicked when I was a university student myself many moons ago. It reminds me of my dreams and aspirations when I decided to jump from Physics to Journalism. However, without an iota of doubt, my days as a university learner made me who I am! #liberalarts #teacher

Ultimately, the current educational system seems ill-equipped to serve the best interests of young adults, pressuring them into premature financial and career decisions. My advice to 18-year-olds uncertain about their future is to explore life beyond academia. Work, travel, discover, and risk. Such experiences can provide a clearer sense of self and purpose. Then, if a university degree still calls, you'll approach it with a richer perspective, poised to get maximum value from the experience. This approach not only enriches your academic journey but also ensures that your educational choices are aligned with a deeper understanding of yourself and your aspirations.

EDUCATION IS THE GOLD, DO NOT BE SIDETRACKED! You will find many posts online despising university education lately. Strangely, you will also find posts of people being hunted by authorities because they faked a degree to acquire opportunities that were only reserved for degree holders, meaning education matters! Cherish education for yourself and your dependents. Do not be discouraged by temporary obstacles that make it feel like your investment in education was a waste. With time, the difference between those who were privileged to  access education and those who were not becomes huge, education pays off. Never regret education just because you have not found a job or are taking long to get one. However, understand that it will take more than academic qualifications for your education to translate into tangible material benefits. Invest in your personal and professional growth too. When you have all three (that is education, personal growth and professional development), you will be a dynamite a force to be reckoned with. It may not happen immediately but watch the space by studying the outcomes of those who choose that path and maintain consistency

"There is no creativity in studies." quipped my son as he recently completed his final exam paper for the year. "You just have to read and understand what's given and reproduce it in exams." he continued. These statements made me pause for a moment and reflect. "To study is to gain knowledge. Creativity lies in applying this knowledge to solve problems creatively." is what I could clarify. Several educational endeavors are trying to give opportunity to kids to apply and solve problems creatively. We need more and more efforts to situate students in problem spaces! However, a persistent issue we have encountered anytime we have attempted to increase the level of activity in our service-learning classes is that some students are unable to understand and apply. Every time we attempt to advance discourse, more than half of the class always feel left behind. I'm becoming more and more convinced that 'mass' and 'class' require their own initiatives. Shouldn't we educate 'mass' and nurture 'class' with a focus on sincere high potential students?  

How can we effectively convey to the next generation that education is the cornerstone of success when real-life examples seem to contradict this belief? We see wealthy criminals thriving while impoverished graduates struggle to make ends meet. This paradox is not just a societal dilemma; it is a call to redefine our understanding of success. Education goes beyond obtaining degrees; it is about arming oneself with the skills to think critically, innovate, and make informed decisions. While we may hear stories of individuals who achieve success without traditional education, we must question the long-term consequences of such paths. Similarly, a degree lacking purpose, ambition, or adaptability holds little value. The younger generation must view education as more than a means to financial prosperity. It serves as a foundation that, when combined with values, creativity, and perseverance, leads to a truly successful life. Perhaps the focus should not be on whether education guarantees success, but rather on how we can redefine success for them. If you have ever grappled with these conflicting narratives, know that you are not alone. The world is evolving, yet education, whether formal or informal, remains essential for progress. PS. What are your thoughts on this topic? How can we reshape this conversation for the younger generation? Let's engage in a discussion in the comments section below. 👇

There's a lovely article I'd like to share with you, about self-compassion and student agency. It's a summary of a conference presentation delivered by the brilliant Prof. Mark O'Hara and Prof Silke Preymann. I hope this makes you think about today's young adults and their experiences of higher education and not yours/ours. It did me. Here is the link: https://lnkd.in/d7ZbmwUH

I want to share some thoughts on an essential yet often overlooked aspect of education: imagination. In today’s fast-paced, ever-changing world, imagination isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. It’s the foundation of creativity, the spark behind innovation, and the lens through which students can see not only the world as it is but as it could be. Too often, our schools prioritize conformity over creativity, focusing narrowly on test results and standardized learning. But true education goes beyond facts and figures. It’s about inspiring curiosity, fostering individuality, and empowering students to think deeply, adapt quickly, and imagine boldly. When we nurture imagination in schools—through the arts, interdisciplinary learning, and environments that embrace exploration and failure—we do more than prepare students for academic success. We equip them to navigate the complexities of life, to dream, and to create meaningful change in the world. It’s time to reimagine education itself, making imagination central to every classroom. By doing so, we’re not just preparing young people for the future; we’re giving them the tools to shape it. Click below to access the article and I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. https://lnkd.in/eMv2PU6g

In a global that races relentlessly towards the destiny, the pressing want to reconsider the idea of education and expertise emerges. Those sciences that have long been taught in school rooms and institutes now appear like relics of a bygone era. Is it important to stay bound with the aid of an academic approach that won't keep up with the spirit of the instances? From my perspective, gaining knowledge of isn't restricted to obtaining instructional degrees but extends to non-stop reading, exploration, and discovery of all that is new. In this period, all it takes is ardour and curiosity to discover a sea of information accessible at the frenzy of a button. The net, this big community that has made information to be had at any time and vicinity, has opened horizons formerly inconceivable a few many years ago. I actually have realized in my adventure that educational observe turned into no longer the only or pleasant manner for me to attain studying. Instead, studies, exploration, and experimentation have been the manner that furnished me with a deep know-how and genuine understanding of what I truely want in my lifestyles and paintings. The route to fulfillment, as I see it, lies within the capability to adapt to continuous modifications and interact in continuous studying that recognizes no limitations. Ultimately, we cannot deny the monstrous price of traditional education, but we have to recognize that cutting-edge global requires highbrow and educational flexibility that is going past the four partitions of lecture rooms. We need to live alert, mastering from every feasible source, leveraging generation to increase our horizons and enhance our studies. In this pursuit, lies the bright future we aspire to.

THE PARADOX OF NOVELTY In education, the acceptance of established knowledge without questioning is encouraged by authority bias, cognitive ease, and tradition, in sharp contrast to the scrutiny with which we encounter new theories. Conversely, in consumer behavior, the desire for novelty, status signaling, and perceived technological superiority make newer luxury items more appealing. This contrast highlights the complexity of human decision-making and the different factors that influence our behavior in various contexts. Bridging the gap in education through critical thinking and adaptive learning can foster a more dynamic understanding, akin to the enthusiasm for innovation seen in consumer choices.