Other students and I have reached the same conclusion that there is a gap between the world of academia and the world of the “workplace.” Not only is there a gap, the gap seems to be growing as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For new students entering the university for the first time might come as a bit of a shock, depending on the programme that is chosen. For me the “world of philosophy” at the faculty of the humanities was truly a new world to tread. Not all was uncommon, since the atmosphere that some teachers created did feel like primary school again (in the focus on learning for the sake of learning).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To paint a picture for those currently in business positions, when a lecture starts with ten minutes of tradional african<\/em> music you experience something quite different from what seems more status quo at Universities that are more oriented towards practical education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example while at the University of Twente there were assignments in which creativity was stimulated by the teachers, the atmosphere was a bit different and the learners culture was all in all more oriented towards reproduction of knowledge rather than pure knowledge seeking for its own sake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I cannot speak for other programmes and perhaps the long history of the University in Leiden makes it easier to overlook faults that you would have spotted at a University with less tradition, but traversing through faculty buildings does give the impression that life in Leiden is special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now there are movements on national level among Universities to preserve the humanities programmes, and it seems unwise to stimulate students to finish their studies as quickly as possible, I mean do not get me wrong it is good to graduate and ultimately students do study to graduate (although that might not be their primary objective) but there is something to say for “slow learning.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Traditionally philosophical studies took a long time to complete and this seems fitting when considering that philosophical studies study human experience per se<\/em>. Also when compared with academic life in medieaval time periods the life of the scholars were aimed towards prolonged study that continued for lifecycles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this light it is rather new that so much studies in modern universities are preparing students for life outside of the university. It is by no means a bad thing but it is a cultural change that has effect on the ways we experience “human” life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If learning is geared towards speed something is lost. Ancient studies included physical exercise as well, this is not forgotten entirely in Dutch society but it stops after high-school. Yes you can continue study in bodily movement but it is offered as a specialized programme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One can argue that it is not lost and that there are communities around student cities that offer physical exercise, and this is true, but these courses are not principally included in University curriculae. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Things like cooking clubs and other skills that are necessary to function as an independent human adult could be taught as well although academics would probably consider these skills not suitable for university environments. But if we consider that the menu at the humanities faculty in Leiden is completely vegetarian it makes one wonder who decides things like these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Does this choice indicate that meat eaters are considered inhuman? Perhaps the dilemma is then most straightforwardly characterized as the dynamic between those who adopt a sedentary lifestyle and those who wander.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interestingly there have already been altercations vis-a-vis students and restaurant staff. The restaurant inside<\/em> the faculty of humanities is independently run. Thus when students want to sit at tables inside<\/em> their University’s campus they are spooked away by third-party employees who have to appease the shareholders of the restaurant. INSIDE THE BUILDING OF THE HUMANITIES<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Other students and I have reached the same conclusion that there is a gap between the world of academia and the world of the “workplace.” Not only is there a gap, the gap seems to be growing as well. 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