The Role of Postgraduate Education in Shaping the Society - Essay Example

Table of contents Summary 2 Introduction 3 Viable Education Options for Individuals. 3 Criteria List For Post graduate Course considerations. 6 Decision Matrix 8 Ratings of each criterion by Jones, David and Herman 9 Rating of Criteria by each individual 9 Personal Characteristics that may inform an individual’s choice of course 10 Analysis of the choices made by respondents. 11 i. Why are their rankings of evaluative criteria different? 11 ii Why are their choices different? 11 Theoretical Analysis of factors that influence the choice of post graduate courses 11 i. Demographic Factors 11 ii Personality 12 Conclusion 13 References 15 Summary The role of postgraduate reduction in shaping the society and changing the way things are done cannot be ignored. From the provision of in depth research to production of highly accredited teachers, the role of postgraduate education becomes a key component and influential part of the society. It will be noted that each person will have their own points to consider in looking at the choices they have for their postgraduate courses (Swan & Trawick 1981). Some people will opt to advance their bachelors and master’s level while others may choose a slightly different field of study. However on thing that may be adequately demonstrated is that there high possibility that the prospective student will have some level of interest to the subject of study. In other words, it may not necessary be a completely strange thing to them. This study attempts to demonstrate how individuals make their choices of postgraduate education. In doing so, various weight parameters are put into scale and the factors that each person looks at are gauged to try and determine how far the influence of these factors goes. Introduction The value attached to education has for long been debated and people have seriously considered taking postgraduate studies as a way of enriching various aspects of their lives. Whatever the motivation, one factor that may be underlined is that the demand for postgraduate studies has rises and is likely to rise even further and the reasons for which people undertake post graduate studies are also be guided by a long list of factors. These factors will be closely looked into in this analysis as a way of giving insight to the subject of post graduate studies. At the same time it will be important to gauge the level at which people will engage in postgraduate studies and the reasons why they may favor some courses over others or why (Townley 2001). To some extent making a choice as to which course and where may not an easy task and factors such as financial status and marital engagement may all come into play when making these choices. This paper will thus be engaged in a discussion to look into these choices available for individuals at various levels of life and what influences the making of these decisions. Viable Education Options for Individuals. Quite often, an individual goes through a process of critical thinking before settling on given course. In some cases it takes deliberate consultations with various stakeholders in order to make informed choices. This subject can be best looked into by looking at some options that an individual may have against all other factors that he needs to consider (Sohail& Saeed 2003) If, for instance, an individual wishes to study a master’s degree in Business Management (MBA) at Central Queensland University (CQU) what are some of the challenges and options he or she may need to explore? Firstly, he would be assured of getting quality education given that this is one of the most reputable Universities in Australia. This then widens individual’s employability and opportunities. Further, the individual has an opportunity to choose between distance learning which makes it more appealing to students from overseas. Financially the course will cost him about fourteen thousand Australian Dollars (UAD $ 14,00). The institute offers a wide range of options that and individual may pursue which include; General Management, Financial Management, Human Resources Management, Information Systems, International; Management Accounting, Marketing Management, Tourism, Public Sector Management, Quality Management and Health Services Management. Course duration at CQU range from 18 months to three years and there is also an opportunity of enrolling in evening or daytime courses. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is no doubt one of the most highly accredited institutes offering courses in undergraduate and postgraduate studies that focus on technological matters. Bearing this in mind, one may wish to note that a course at MIT may cost an individual about $13,920.This is basically a technology driven institute and one may therefore opt to take such courses as a masters or even a PhD. in computer engineering. A PhD in computer sciences is a highly marketable course that may brings opportunities of working with companies such as Google and Microsoft (Massachusetts Institute Of Technology 2008). An individual may also choose to undertake a doctorate degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT. To begin with, this would cost him about $ 40,460 a year and of course those who are outside the USA may need to relocate as this is a highly practical course that would require actual presence. Job prospects for individuals who undertake this program could be in government organization and the private corporate world. It is reported that a good number of alumni are successful entrepreneurs. This is one course that may be seen as relatively expensive and quite unappealing unless one has a profound interest in the field. It would be among the least to consider. We may also put into scale the possibility of undertaking a PhD in Management Program where one would major in Technology and Operations management at INSEAD, Asia Campus located at Singapore. This course is highlighted as one that would equip one with the skills of technically designing a management methodology that is aimed at improving all value adding processes of an organization. As in many other PhD course one needs to have a Bachelor’s degree for a reputable organization. One notable feature of this course is the emphasis laid in mathematics where it is noted that students who might have a weak background in mathematical courses are encouraged to take remedial course work before undertaking the course. Students in other continents may also consider cultural and distance changes that would come with studying in Asia and Europe where INSEAD has its campuses. The Harvard Law School is known for its production of top, notch law graduates. It is one university that people would feel proud to be part of given its rich history. The PhD courses require that the student first undergoes a one year training in research. This is besides the four to six years that one may take in actual training. This underlines the seriousness of the expectations of the course especially in regard to the quality of research work to be submitted. This is one option that many people would shy away from considering that one will have spent almost the same amount of time for their undergraduate and masters degree. At the IOWA State University, a PhD in Biophysics would vary in duration and among the requirements for students from other countries is a prove for English command. This is mainly a research based course and one that individuals can apply in various areas in life. One may however shy away from the $20,728 a year fees requirement but the possibility of being equipped to be a world class scientist would lure a person of high mental capability into this course. Criteria List For Post graduate Course considerations. There are several issues that face a person in choosing a post graduate course and this issue apply almost universally. To begin with, there is an individual’s interest. This plays a major role in determining how much an individual is willing to sacrifice to undertake the course of his interesting most case; people will make great sacrifices to pursue a field in which they are interested There is also the issue of employability on successful completion of the course. It has been noted that doctorate graduates, for instance, expect a considerably high pay. This contradicts the business expectations in today’s economies where organizations are continuously engaged in cost cutting mechanisms. It would thus be important that an individual looks at their applicability and demand of the skills they wish to acquire in these courses (Lovelock et al 2005). Most post graduate students, especially from the PhD level onwards, are mature people with spouses and children or those who have just started up a family. One will therefore need to look at the implications that leaving a young wife in Australia to undertake a six years PhD in Astronautics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology would have on their relationship. There is also the ever important issue of cost that one must put into consideration. Post graduate degrees are normally very expensive and in most cases one needs a sound financial back up to successfully undertake a postgraduate course. Although there are scholarship options available, they are usually not easily forthcoming and in case one has to rely on their own financial support, then they must carefully analyze the affordability (Holmes et al 2005). Another common factor that people look into is the reputation of the course. Here, reputation may refer to extensive considerations that may include the prefix title of the person on completion of the course. Course duration further informs a person’s choice of where and what course to undertake for post graduate studies. Most postgraduate courses will take about two years to complete but some are extensive and demanding. Before getting to this level students will have definitely spent some more time in pursuing their first and second degrees or both (Jackson 1982). This also combines with age factors that where young students would have other societal expectations such as family life and would thus not want to spend so much time in class in sacrifice of other obligations as this may not make them wholesome beings. Decision Matrix Factors To Consider When Making Postgraduate Education Options Factor Weighting High ( x 3) Medium (x 2) Low (x 1) Highest Score = 50 Factors important to aspiring students Cost Age Duration Distance Marketability Employability Family Total MBA at Central Queensland University 4x3 1x1 1x2 2x3 1x1 3x1 25 PhD. in Computer Engineering at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology 6x2 3x1 2x2 3x1 4x1 2x1 28 PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics MIT 2x3 3x2 4x1 3x1 2x2 2x3 23 PhD in Management at INSEAD 4x1 4x2 2x3 2x1 5x2 3x3 39 PhD in Law at Harvard Law School 5x3 3x2 2x2 3x4 4x1 3x3 48 PhD in Biophysics at IOWA university 1x3 2x1 2x1 4x1 3x2 3x1 20 In trying to understand the analysis presented by this matrix three people three people with different background environments have been involved. Jones Mackenzie is a 32 year old information technician based in Melbourne and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from Melbourne University and has several management certificates .He also heads a critical department at his company as an administrative manager. He is married but still has no children. Mark David Holmes is a 35 year old partner at a local law firm holding a master’s degree in constitutional law. He is a father of three and is greatly involved in charity work and as a result he travels a lot. Thirdly, it involved Dr. Herman Arnold who is a dentist and runs a series of successful clinics and laboratories in various states in Australia. He is also a motivational speaker. The three gentlemen were selected for demonstrating their interest in pursuing post graduate education but have been hindered by various factors. Ratings of each criterion by Jones, David and Herman Score out of 50 Jones David Herman Cost 15 20 27 Age 3 4 6 Duration 10 6 2 Marketability 12 9 4 Distance 2 5 4 Family 2 5 3 Total 42 49 46 Rating of Criteria by each individual University and Course The respondent may choose Rating On a scale of 1-10 Cost Age Duration Marketability Distance Family J D H J D H J D H J D H J D H J D H MBA at Central Queensland University 5 4 4 2 2 3 2 5 3 4 3 4 1 5 5 2 4 5 PhD. in Computer Engineering at Massachusetts Institute Of Technology 4 5 1 1 2 4 2 5 4 5 2 3 3 5 4 1 5 6 PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics MIT 4 6 1 3 2 6 3 7 7 6 6 6 5 2 4 5 PhD in Management at INSEAD 6 5 1 1 4 5 6 4 3 4 2 2 4 2 4 5 PhD in Law at Harvard Law School 5 5 1 3 2 4 4 2 2 3 4 4 3 4 2 3 Phd In Biophysics At IOWA University 6 6 1 1 1 3 2 1 4 5 6 5 2 3 5 The names of the respondents are abbreviated as follows; J-Jones D-David H-Herman Personal Characteristics that may inform an individual’s choice of course In spite of all other factors that may influence the decision that these individuals may make, each one of them may also be guided by other personal characteristics. Johnes for instance may be driven by his general interest in computer studies. He is fascinated by technology and his decision may greatly be attached to this interest. He will however need to consider whether he would consider quitting his job where he has been handed a managerial post and he is seemingly doing well in his career. Mark David Holmes already has masters’ degree to his name and is a partner in a well to do law firm. His career is definitely on course and his education level can assure him a job through his lifetime. He has a family that he needs to look after and at his age he would probably be driven by ambition to take his career to the next level (Mansky & Wise 1983). Dr. Herman is an entrepreneur. His education level would serve most people in a good way. For the sake of his business, he no doubt would do with a bit of management skills and this is probably what would drive him to a post graduate course. From a general point of view personal characteristics will play a major role in determining what course an individual takes and whether or not it would really be necessary (Long 2004). Analysis of the choices made by respondents. i. Why are their rankings of evaluative criteria different? As a result of the varying considerations that each individual makes, the factors that enhance their choice of a course changes (Avery & Hoxby 2004).It must be considered that they are all making personal choices that are influenced by several factors that surround their life. Fore instance, at 32, Jones is considerably young and given that he is still not married, a matrix that considers family life weighs notably low. In other words its not a factor that seems to bother him as much. On the other hand, David and Herman have family responsibilities that will shift their choices. ii Why are their choices different? It may be said that at the epicenter of the considerations to be made is individual interests .Jones, David and Herman all have a degrees in different fields. This may be translated to mean that their interest in pursuing their first degree was informed by what they felt more comfortable with or personal decisions (Chen & Zimitat 2006).Similarly, their interest in pursuing a postgraduate course has been influenced by personal ambitions and there is also seen to be some weight laid behind the cost of the courses (Drewes & Michael 2006). Theoretical Analysis of factors that influence the choice of post graduate courses i. Demographic Factors Age: It can be noted that Jones is consistently seen not to be influenced by age factor while in most cases David’s and Herman choices are largely influenced by their age. All the three men are in their thirties and seem to consider the age at which they may complete their course. This may be also weighed against the backdrop of the age of students who will become their classmates. Ideally, they would favor a situation where the age difference is less( Montgomery 2002) Family: It is also looked at as a major factor and in the case of the two married men they do not seem to favor a situation where they would be far from their families. Johnes on the other hand, seems to be greatly affected by this factor and his score to this end is considerably low Distance. Generally, distance doesn’t seem to be a major concern for all the three men. However, in cases where the courses are offered in other continents other that America and Europe, there seems to be a shift in interest paradigms (Long 2004). Cost This is a consideration that all the three men seem to look at keenly and in all cases it is noted that the cost of the course almost entirely changes their interest in pursuing it. ii Personality Jones is fun loving and experimental and it even doesn’t come a surprise that his field of study is in an area where he can experiment on technological items. He is quite intelligent and through his schooling years he has consistently obtained admirable grades. One may say that while it would be expected that he will still post good grades in his performance at post education level, he is also expected to immensely explore any new environment he may be subjected to (Paulsen 1990).This varies from David, a no nonsense lawyer who values the family unit and has always had an interest in helping other people. David is thus involved in various charity organizations and this has seen him travel quite a lot. He is thus more open to new ideas and environments. He reads widely and is very much interested in political intrigues of the world Herman is also bright in education matters and succeeds easily in them. He likes experimenting in business ideas and has combined this with his educational background to create a well-to-do business venture. He is also a sociable person who integrates easily with people. Conclusion The matrix weight clearly indicates that there is an interest in post graduate education at various levels on several subjects. Colleges are keen to offer courses that reflect the needs of students in various ways and students actually have a long list to choose from. Further, it has been established that the choices a student makes cannot be influenced by one single factor but there is a combination of factors. One of the main factors that seem to pose a challenge to postgraduate education is cost. In most universities postgraduate courses have been noted to be expensive and this has led to students shying away from undertaking the. There is the income factor that is closely associated with the cost of education factor. Regardless of how well paying the jobs of individuals may be, the cost of undertaking these course tops the list of the factors that seem influential to this end. In general, consideration of postgraduate studies is embedded on the combined factors of distance, age and duration. Although the universities used in this evaluation are mostly to notch and universally recognized, the education providers also play a role in that the students want to be associated with universities that offer education that would help them become competitive in their careers. In this respect, employment opportunities brought about by attain postgraduate education also makes a critical choice. 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