Atara Messinger, 21, is in her final undergraduate year at McMaster University, and feels core-curriculum programs like hers are “guiding you to where the world is going,” and yet are ‘so, so hard to get these days.’Peter Power/The Globe and Mail
As part of The Globe's Our Time to Lead series on education, we asked readers: What's the one thing you would change about higher education in Canada? Here are some of their responses.
Not everyone needs to get a postsecondary education and not everyone should. We need to get rid of this societal norm that going to university makes you a 'better person.' There are tons of jobs out there that don't necessarily need a university degree that are difficult to perform and are important to our society.
- Braeden Lunn, 20, London, Ont
I am currently completing my masters degree, and despite the research funding I have received, I am working three jobs on top of full-time studies in order to keep my head above water. What's more, I know my story is not unique. No one is able to do their best academic work when they are functioning on four hours of sleep and worrying about whether the rent cheque will bounce. As a result, Canada's academics aren't producing at the rates of those in other nations.
- Erin Harrison, 24, Carleton
We need to move away from the lecture halls and get into our communities. How can we involve students in society as they are studying? How can we connect students with organizations and groups who are working to make a difference? We need to connect course material to these real-world problems.
- Janet Moore, 41, VancouverFederal initiative to better connect students with industry. This would include free industry-specific training, stronger co-op programs, competitions (design, case study, etc) and subsidized tuition for industry-demanded professions
- Daniel Gould, 26, Dalhousie
I am back at it after taking a "year off" to study at the Free University of Berlin last year. I wish studying abroad was more ingrained in the university system. I have grown and learned so much and not only about my field. Despite the fact that my university may not give me credit for my year, I know that it was worth it
- Stephanie Rempel, 21, University of Winnipeg
The model of the flipped classroom should be adopted: Watch a good lecture (not necessarily done by the professor) at home and meet with classmates and a tutor in a small group to discuss it and/or do assignments.
- Mark Gilman, 23, Ryerson