University of Tomorrow

Unfortunately, I couldn't name this article as University of Today!

The education system of UK is, without doubt, one of the World's best. I have had the time of my life being part of this system since last 4 years and while I am reaching its end, i'm looking back and cherishing every experience I have enjoyed in University of Chester.

So, what's the problem?

The problem is validity, relevance and motivation!
What's the use of having a qualification which is not going to help you in real world organisations?!
Won't motivate you to think creatively within current context of Global environment and competition?!
Why, once you start a graduate job, you look back and think they never told us that in university?!

Right, how do we sort this out then?

Looking back at my experiences, what could have helped me understand and relate business theory with practical life better would've been if I had my own business which I can relate to! A real proper business! So, universities of tomorrow must give students this opportunity (mandatory) to have their own business by forming students into groups with a start up cash and let them decide their own business idea!

The marks and grading system should be replaced with how the academic underpinning is being reflected in their business for each module/subject area, with full overview of each business suggesting the overall classification of their degree in terms of profits, working capital, customer base, feedback, growth etc. Obviously, some businesses/groups would fail in the beginning, but then again, in every class, some students do fail! Business is a race for survival, the failing businesses can be bailed out by a reserve, merged with a successful one, partly owned or completely taken over by competitors having the failures as mere employees! If this starts happening since day 1, I can guarantee, by the time the students graduate, we may see a future Yahoo, Google or Facebook in the making.

Not only will this type of a project help students make money, but it will motivate them to be more committed in what they learn, work effectively in a team, survive as a business in these economical times and occupy that killer instinct leading to innovation, developments and revolutionary academic developments!

More to come.

This is +Nauman Wasif , tell me what you think!