I have argued for a more “mutiny” (edit: maybe “exit” is a better word for it) style theory of change in higher education so I really like the idea of an EA university where learning would be more guided by a genuine sense of purpose, curiosity and ambition to improve the world rather than a zero-sum competition for prestige and a need to check boxes in order to get a piece of paper. Though I realize that many EAs probably don’t share my antipathy towards the current higher education system.
One downside of EA universities I can think of is that it might slow movement growth since EAs will be spending less time with people unfamiliar with the movement / fewer people at normal universities will come across EA.
Though if it becomes really successful and prestigious, it could also raise the profile of EA.
In my experience, EAs tend to be pretty dissatisfied with the higher education system, but I interpreted the muted/mixed response to my post on the topic as a sign that my experience might have been biased, or that despite the dissatisfaction, there wasn’t any real hunger for change. Or maybe a sense that change was too intractable.
Though I might also have done a poor job at making the case.
My speculative, cynical, maybe unfair take is that most senior EAs are so enmeshed in the higher education system, and sunk so much time succeeding in it, that they’re incentivized against doing anything too disruptive that might jeopardize their standing within current institutions. And why change how undergrad education is done if you’ve already gone through it?
I have argued for a more “mutiny” (edit: maybe “exit” is a better word for it) style theory of change in higher education so I really like the idea of an EA university where learning would be more guided by a genuine sense of purpose, curiosity and ambition to improve the world rather than a zero-sum competition for prestige and a need to check boxes in order to get a piece of paper. Though I realize that many EAs probably don’t share my antipathy towards the current higher education system.
Though if it becomes really successful and prestigious, it could also raise the profile of EA.
Anecdotally, most EAs I have spoken to about this topic have tended to agree
I am a professor and have steadily been e xiting higher education. It is bad
Out of curiosity, would you be interested in sharing your biggest “causes for concern” with higher education?
In my experience, EAs tend to be pretty dissatisfied with the higher education system, but I interpreted the muted/mixed response to my post on the topic as a sign that my experience might have been biased, or that despite the dissatisfaction, there wasn’t any real hunger for change. Or maybe a sense that change was too intractable.
Though I might also have done a poor job at making the case.
My speculative, cynical, maybe unfair take is that most senior EAs are so enmeshed in the higher education system, and sunk so much time succeeding in it, that they’re incentivized against doing anything too disruptive that might jeopardize their standing within current institutions. And why change how undergrad education is done if you’ve already gone through it?