In
this week’s readings, we read articles about the interconnections or links
between higher education and the broader economy of the nation-state, in this
case, the United States. Higher education, specifically, universities and
colleges, have always play a significant role in shaping the economic landscape
of a nation. In fact, the two extremes; that is, higher education and the
economy are two aspects of the same coin and they can affect each other
overtime. The following paragraphs are summaries of the main points that were
briefly discussed in each articles related to the role of universities within
the broader context of the economic system.
Galuszka’s
made a compelling argument that state-run institutions of higher education have
provided proven track records of excellence in various disciplines that are
offer on their campuses specifically in Virginia and California. He asserted that
there have been signification decreases in funding for state-run universities
and colleges, which have impacted the cost of tuition imbalances between instate
and out of state students. He added that this new paradigm has contributed to
the low acceptance rate of instate students over out-of-state students who tend
to pay more tuition. Galuszka also added that allowing the market to determine
the price of college education is detrimental to the economy and institutions
at large. However, economic liberalists would argue that allowing the market to
determine the cost of tuition follow by less government intervention in the
educational sector and other systems would promote efficient and competitive
universities nationwide and in the long run, it would benefit the economy, a
view that Galuszka’s article did not seem to agree with.
The Robertson’s article
takes a similar approach, but asserts that in the midst of the declining
funding for state colleges and universities and the current instability of the
global economy, there is a need to restructure how financing higher education
should be addressed. Unlike Galuszka, Robertson argues that allowing the market
to determine the cost of college education would be an effective mechanism for colleges
and universities to sustain their current programs and services in the midst of
this harsh and unstable global economy.
The Stephens and
McCauley’s article focuses on the utilization of sustainable green clustering and
socio-technical transitions model as a mechanisms for effecting positive change
in achieving sustainable energy transitions. The goal of their study is to enhance
and promote the advancement of the socio-technical transitions towards green energy
sustainability for regional development building one the theoretical frameworks
of agglomeration of economies in relations to their proximity. In view of the
widespread and universal occurrences of sustainable green clusters, Stephens
and McCauley concluded that, it is essential to consider the advantages the
model is worth and not just the promotion and enhancement of the green economy
paradigm. They added that it sets the pace for achieving and facilitating the
way for a more energy sustainable future.
The Kamenetz’s article
on “College on Credit” dives into the issues and challenges of college
financing by exploring increases in the cost of college education and how the
cost of college education have skyrocket over the years. He argued that even
though the cost of college education continue to increase almost every year, little
has been done to restructure the process and product of the process. That is,
the usual instructional environment in most colleges and universities where we
still have the professor-centric approach in which a professor leads the
instructional process and in some cases with minimum technological
interventions; that is, with the use of PowerPoint presentations. He also noted
that the increase in the cost of college education in recent years can be
attributed in part to the retrofitting of college campuses and the inclusion of
some technologies, modernized food courts as well as sport centers and
libraries to make these campuses more accessible to the market of incoming
college students.
Works Cited
Galuszka, Peter (2011). "The Invisible Hand of William & Mary?" Washington Post
Kamenetz (2006). Chapter 2: College On Credit."
McCauley, S. M and Stephens J. C. (2012). "Green energy clusters and socio-technical transitions: analysis of a sustainable energy cluster for regional economic development
in Central Massachusetts, USA." Springer, Sustainability Science, Vol. 1, No. 1. ISBN:1862-4065
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