A knowledge economy or a spoofers paradise?

The dreary Atlantic weather has plastered itself upon my window as I find myself in the early December struggle that us students often face at this time of year - that seemingly eternal battle against procrastination.

Throughout this internal conflict many questions come to mind: where do I start? Could I have done more? Why didn't I attend as much as I should have? Am I even that interested in my course?

As a final year student, I consider myself a veteran;  this year’s fight against my own thoughts has led me down a deeper path, a path which has prompted me to question the merits of third-level education in this country.

Have we, as a country, the right to call ourselves a “knowledge economy” as the Government loves to portray us as?

My course falls under the categories of Business and Arts and while I have gained an insight into the social sciences, I find myself asking what have I actually learned?

Academically - absolutely nothing!

It has been a period of citing other people’s work and regurgitating content from memory - two skills that I  feel are no of substantial benefit to the workforce when I graduate.

The reality is that it has been a character building journey where I have become more socially aware and have learned the hard way to say enough is enough (especially with regards to alcohol consumption).

But is this what my family have spent almost €20000 (between fees and accommodation) putting me through third level education for?

Are we the nation of Saints and Scholars or just a nation of spoofers with an expensive piece of paper to our name?

Of course, the statistics look fantastic!

We have one of the best rates of qualified young people (25-34) in the EU with over 40 per cent of this age bracket boasting a third-level degree.

Third-level education is now seen as the natural progression from secondary school.

Can we be expected to know what we want at the age of 17 or 18 without having gained any first-hand experience of what a third-level course entails?

The most beneficial aspect of my third level experience has been my 8-month work placement  where I  trained in a role that none of my previous work in college had prepared me for, and I learned the type of career I don’t want to pursue!

The reality paints a bleaker picture than what the Government and the EU would like to advertise.

This time next year I will have graduated and will have a reasonable chance of employment.

The chances of me using any of the knowledge from my course are slim and this has the potential to damage our so-called “knowledge economy” in the sense that we are going to be found out by these multi-national companies sooner than later!

The system is crying out for a re-think! Is it practical for me to study a course for four years and never use any of it again?

I don’t think so, and, unfortunately, I am not the only student with this mindset.

As the demographic of students attending third level looks set to increase the “knowledge economy is set to become more and more diluted!