Is work placement a help or a hindrance?

University education must train the mind to think and give a sound academic background, so that graduates may be versatile in their responses to changing trends and situations. Universities are not and cannot be direct training grounds for industry, although our courses can and do reflect industry's needs.

For many jobs, graduates need to be able to think logically and analytically, be aware of changing trends and job prospects and able to compete well in a competitive job market. How do work placements for undergraduates fit in to this scheme? They takes place in the third year of a four-year degree programme and lasts for between six and 12 months, of which three months at least occurs during university term.

This, effectively, reduces the normal four-year degree to three or three-and-a-half years diminishes the academic and technical content. It must be remembered that we are competing in the EU where for most countries the normal degree programme is of at least five year's. In addition, our students enter university at a relatively early age compared to our partners. It is interesting that, when undergraduates undertake work placement in the US, the academic programme is extended at the end.

Placement is occurring more and more in areas, such as in engineering and computer science, where it is not necessary in order to secure employment.

The job experience is often minimal and many students are placed in positions which have no relation to what they will do when they graduate.

Here at NUI Galway, we have a degree in computing and mathematics. Placement seemed like a good idea initially but on reflection it was decided it would interfere too drastically with the strong academic programme. We are training scientists who need to know how the "machine" works as well as how to work the "machine". The students have no problem in securing well-paid employment and most have two or three job offers by February or March in their year of graduation. Employers have come back seeking more such graduates. Obviously, they feel that this programme is very relevant to their needs.

Many of the newer applications in business, computing and finance - such as encryption, coding, data compression, computer graphics, networking, formal methods of software engineering, neural networks, option pricing and financial derivatives, etc - require a strong academic knowledge and background which can only be obtained over a full four-year degree programme.

There are, of course, arguments in favour of placement. Indeed, it can be very appropriate for graduate programmes including in particular so-called "cpnversion courses". It is, however, inappropriate at undergraduate level to train people for specific jobs whose specifications nowadays are forever changing. In order to maintain international standards and to keep pace with new ideas and developments, we cannot afford the interruption at undergraduate level.

E DUCATION & L Editor: Ella Shanahan Production: Hugh Lambert and Harry Browne Main Cover illustration: Tom Mathews Small cover illustrations: Cathy Dineen Email: education@irish-times.ie