There was a time when major discoveries in the field of medicine, science and technology were made by scientists and scholars who were groomed through apprenticeships where students used to spend a part of their life in direct learning from their mentors. At completion of training no formal degree used to be awarded to them but their practical contributions are marvelous and their books, theories and principles are still taught in the high ranking schools of the world.
If we compare the number of discoveries and inventions made by these scholars as compared to today's scholars with PhDs and DScs, the number is not appreciable. I think apprenticeships were 'vertical', compared to today’s education strategy which is almost horizontal i.e. 'jack of all trades'. What do you think?
1. Apprentices can become scholars, but more slowly. They may be blind to the bigger picture.
2. A PhD is, by definition, a scholar.
3. You do not have to be a PhD or a scholar to invent practical things.
4. Doctoral degree recipients do not only have to invent objects for a living. They have to lead research groups, teach and develop human capacity.
Thanks Dr. Ian for the reply. Your concern about the Apprenticeship mode seems attributed to the pace. But if we compare the years required to attain a PhD. Degree with the Apprenticeship mode of training, we will find that a candidate needs minimum 20-25 years to attain a PhD. degree. If we analyze the curriculum from class 1 to PhD, we will know that numerous subjects are totally irrelevant, some have indirect impact and only few have direct impact. So PhD. qualification is generally horizontal type of studies as compared to the Apprenticeship mode, which is vertical, more focused and deep. I agree that doctoral degree is not associated with invention, but creative and analytically thinking is no doubt related to invention of new theories, principles and new technology. So one who is capable of inventing new things is undoubtedly more creative and innovative. Besides he or she is more useful for the community. If we go through the history we will find that many inventions have been made by those who were groomed through Apprenticeship. Their contribution seems more than those with PhD degrees. Yes apprentice may not have expanded knowledge of everything and are not jack of all trades but have mastery on one subject as compared to their counterparts PhD. What do you think?
Hello friends, some things have to be taught and some other things have to be caught (by the social learning theory). Both the apprentice and the PhD candidate employ both ways to get knowledge, but there may be more ways of learning. The apprentice has more opportunity to learn by observing and practicing.
But having expressed these thoughts, I agree with Ian, we should be thinking in terms of human resource development, and what we can contribute to nation building, besides improving our global village.
Thanks Dr Mirnada for your comment and agreeing to the point that "The apprentice has more opportunity to learn by observing and practicing". You better know in pedagogy, Psycho motor and cognitive skills are more important for creative thinking as compared to memorizing the facts. So I believe Apprenticeship mode may be more productive as compared to the formal PhD products. If we go through the evolutionary process in education that all degrees evolved from Apprenticeship style of learning and teaching. For example first PhD in this universe was supervised by a Non-PhD, Firt M.Phil student by a Master degree holder supervisor and so on.
It's not a great surprise that the first PhD was supervised by a non-PhD. A lot depends on the individuals concerned. When I was at school, my best teachers were not degree holders. They were from Teacher Training Colleges. After many years, the student-teachers from such colleges were recognized and given degrees, not just teaching certs or diplomas!
Thanks Miranda for sharing the practical situation, which reveals that expertise and teaching skills of your teachers in school were not dependent on their degree. Rather degrees were conferred upon them based on their skills level. Exactly this is my point that you may observe that such teachers without degree or formal education might be more competent, dedicated and creative than those having big degrees from big schools. So to my opinion direct learning from a mentor may still yield better results through Apprenticeship mode of training due to its vertical type of instructional methodology.
We must also consider the other side of the coin, that the students who have a passion for knowledge will likely go on to pursue a PhD :)
There is no doubt that a piece of paper which is called PhD degree is universally acceptable at the forefront as compared to the skills only, in the present education system. For examples if we would not having PhD degrees , we would not be serving at the University level.
I am thinking loudly with a broader view of transforming the education system in the world from horizontal to vertical, where an experienced guru and mentor with proven record of expertise and skills in his field transfer all of his knowledge to his students. Such Grus and mentors are actually one man University or One woman University. Because I don't believe in the PhD producing factories scattered all over the world. For example I completed my PhD after five years day and night working, whereas some of my colleagues got their degree in less than three years just by 1-2 hours daily working. So what is the value of such a PhD degree other than a piece of a paper.
Dear Bruce? you are right. will you kindly explain further?
Surely it depends on what optimal outcome is in terms of what any society needs at a given point in time and over time. Historially, academia was practised in isolation from the socio-cultural groups of society who farmed the land and built towns, those poeple who were by nature less academic found plenty of use and respect for their practical skills. We now have a society where academic skills appear to be valued above practical skills even though practical skills remain crucial to the surival of most developed societies. The critical thinking skills required to perform many practical apprenticeships would seem to parallel the philosophical thinking skills required to undertake academic study, however, they are less well financially valued or rewarded, pity.
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