World university rankings show ‘power shift’ from US and UK towards Far East – Telegraph

English: Harvard Yard winter 2009.

English: Harvard Yard winter 2009. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This article from the Telegraph picks up an important trend. It’s worth a read. Check it out!

via World university rankings show ‘power shift’ from US and UK towards Far East – Telegraph.

As I reflected on this article, I think that the article perhaps misses a much wider point.

This article dwells on the World’s top 200 universities but much more important are the trends for second, third and fourth tier universities.

Unless a student is particularly gifted, the World’s top two hundred universities tend to be for the children of the rich and privileged. I accept that there are scholarships but competition is intense.

For most young people, there is a wider concern in the erosion of value in education. Too many young people are struggling with massive educational debts, yet meaningful careers are hard to find. Part of the challenge is that education is not well matched to the demand for skills.

Thoughts?

Bagehot: Generation Xhausted | The Economist

Looking back over some of my most popular blogs, I think this is worth a read.

Dr Alf's Blog

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20:  British Prime M... LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 20: British Prime Minister David Cameron leaves Downing Street for Parliament on October 20, 2010 in London, England. The Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne is set to announce the coalition government’s spending review in Parliament. The review is designed to tackle the country’s deficit and will outline swinging cuts throughout the whole of the public sector with many public sector jobs set to be axed and budgets significantly reduced. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

This article from Bagehot in the Economist would be funny if it were not so sad. I recommend it for a read. Check it out!

Bagehot: Generation Xhausted | The Economist.

Being older than the author, retired and having seen a fair bit of the World, of course, I see matters slightly differently. In my generation too, I saw enormous pressure to make progress up the ladder, then to…

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