The Government of Barbados protects us by setting minimum qualifications for those who want to offer professional services to the public. The qualifications normally consist of a university degree at the Bachelor level and a minimum number of years of supervised training.
A bachelor’s degree provides the holder with the basic tools to do the job in that field. Supervised training allows the holder to become competent using those tools by failing in an environment where mistakes can be corrected. Therefore, the first 5 years of professional practice after obtaining those tools are critical to building a strong foundation for a professional career.
SPECIALISED TOOLS.
After professionals can competently practice without supervision, they may wish to specialise in a particular field. Therefore, they may return to university to pursue Master’s degree. A Master’s degree provides additional tools to practise specialist work.
After working for several years in a specialist field, a person may wish to pursue research that may benefit humanity. Therefore, they may return to university to become a Doctor of their profession.
Ethics and research integrity are critical components of doctoral research. Every individual has biases based on their beliefs and experience. Research integrity mandates that researchers attach equal weight to credible evidence that both supports and does not support their biased opinions.
CAREER PATHWAYS.
There are two known career pathways to pursuing a Doctorate, (i) the laboratory researcher, and (ii) the non-laboratory researcher. A laboratory researcher may do a Bachelor, Master’s and Doctorate degree with no working time in between pursuing the degrees, since the tools are being exercised in the lab under supervision. Graduates may then continue working in labs at the University, within Government departments, and/or in the private sector.
For everyone else, especially those planning to offer professional advice where the consequences of bad advice are unaffordable, work-time to practice the Bachelor’s basic and Master’s specialist tools are critical.
SHORT CUTS.
Students who think that they are taking a clever short-cut, by using the laboratory research doctoral career path, when they have no intention of pursuing a lab-research career, risk embarrassing their employers, colleagues and themselves, and risk harming their clients.
Having avoided practicing the fundamental tools gained at the bachelor’s level, and the specialist tools gained at the master’s level before getting their first job, they may mistakenly be seen as experts. But they are not qualified to be experts. They are only qualified to make mistakes that a supervisor must correct. If they are hired as supervisors, then to delay being found out as unqualified, they may blame everyone for their mistakes – except themselves.
Always good contributions when you stick to what you know. I can read this without cringing and come away informed.
What are you implying when you use the phrase “protect us?” Are you implying that the BAR should be raised?
Why does Barbados not produce ‘more’ inventors? Is it the intellect of the population, the low expectations in the society or is it the education system in itself?
“A bachelor’s degree provides the holder with the basic tools to do the job in that field. Supervised training allows the holder to become competent using those tools by failing in an environment where mistakes can be corrected.”
That does not ring true for a field such as the medical because there are some mistakes that cannot be corrected. We see these mistakes daily. How would you correct such because these individuals are ‘qualified’ with both experience and education.
SHORT CUTS
If a student used a lab-research to attain a doctoral degree, then decided not to pursue that path but a different one, would that lab research not enhance them in another field they pursue or better yet in life?
“Having avoided practising………………………….they may mistakenly be seen as experts” Wouldn’t a student now have to be employed to practise these fundamental tools? Do they purposely avoid such practises? Or maybe they just got a piece of paper in theory but are incapable of practice?
Is your Phd in Engineering and do you use it to teach that field?
They avoid practicing by doing a Master’s degree right after the Bachelor – without working to practice the Bachelor tools.
I have respect for Ph.D’S Heroes. Indeed I do.
“All people like to hear what they want to hear – even if it is not true. There are three common reasons to tell people what is not true: (i) to encourage them, (ii) to avoid trouble, and (iii) to deceive them.”
I admire those young men and women who invest in their academic achievements.
Base on your qualifications/expertise, please educate us Doctor…
“A bachelor’s degree provides the holder with the basic tools to do the job in that field.”
+++++++++++++++++
A bachelor’s degree is much more than a piece of paper—or a line on your resume. It’s a major investment in your education and personal growth, which may lead to many benefits.
Support/encourage our students..
GP, what is your impression about how the professionals at BSE and FSC are doing their jobs when major decisions are to be made, such as takeovers and so on.
Random Soundbites 4 U and U and U in 🇧🇧 under ground
The Sun is pro black.
It’s a beautiful day to be black.
Don’t be a slave to the system
Train. Study. Fight.
“The synergy of a group is as important,
if not more important,
than the talent of individuals”
— Rick Rubin
“It is very important to have music that speaks to our wellness and our well-being in a way that is very relatable, it’s not preachy, it’s not judging,
it’s really affirmations to the beat”
— Stic Man
OF DEAD PREZ
I use to have a thing for cognac
now a days I train for combat
Unfortunately, we are still preferring to see papers rather than skills. I have read hundreds of articles and have spoken to dozens of young people, who have many creative skills outside of academia but they are not taken seriously.
It’s now common place for almost anybody with the time to end up with Masters and Doctorates.
However what about our young crafts people and budding agriculturalists; livestock farmers, fisherfolk and so on.
We are witnessing our entertainers having to compete with others from other countries and apparently being given second preference.
Until we honestly assess our manpower needs and connect our education needs to such, we would continue to have high levels of both unemployment and underemployment.
It is okay to go before one’s peers and defend a thesis. However while that gives you some respect it does not mean you will be any star or achieve great heights in your chosen profession.
Quite frankly, we have designed a university system that is fundamentally the same tool as the one our former masters developed .
Once more we run the risk of believing we are changing things while they remain the same. We perhaps have not grasped what mental slavery means. Having great academic potency and still can’t think beyond a piece of paper is essentially a non productive existence in terms of national development.
Knocked out the ballpark with a sledge hammer. Dont be surprised to see it in one of my publications. It’s everything in a nutshell.
William.
“Once more we run the risk of believing we are changing things while they remain the same. We perhaps have not grasped what mental slavery means. Having great academic potency and still can’t think beyond a piece of paper is essentially a non productive existence in terms of national development.“
*******
I tip my cork hat.
I got my threads confused
Re: Hi Tek savvy
Nowadays in the information age
experts set up websites to impart their wisdom
or upload videos for teaching
It’s now common place for almost anybody with the time to end up with Masters and Doctorates.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx
HAD TOO MUCH TO SMOKE WHEN MAKING THIS COMMENT.
MORE THAN 50 PERCENT DON’T LEAVE SCHOOL WITH ADEQUATE QUALIFICATIONS HAVING NOT GRASPED BASIC CONCEPTS OR THE DISCIPLINE TO DO SO.
YOU CAN MAKE YOUR POINT WITHOUT PROVIDING INFORMATION THAT IS NOT FACTUAL.
IT IS NOW FASHIONABLE TO DENIGRATE ALL FOLK WHO HAVE STUDIED AND ATTAINED ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
MANY OF THESE FOLK ALSO HAVE SOME OF THE SKILL SETS THAT THE NON ACADEMICS HAVE
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE AGREED WITH SPARROW THAT CHILDREN SHOULD GO TO SCHOOL AND LEARN WELL
WE WERE TAUGHT TO ABANDON THE FIELDS AND STUDY
WE HAVE NO BALANCE!
@ Baje
Anybody with the time , who has that academic inclination. Certainly, I never meant those who can’t earn a high school certificate. Never thought it was necessary to spell out that.
It is so easy that many dare not attempt it, preferring to work in odd jobs here and there.
Let a man who did it tell me how easy it is. Non doers not welcome.
GP, children should go to school and learn well, but they should learn morals as well or as adults they may use that learning in immoral and illegal ways to oppress ordinary folk.
@ David
I believe this is the appropriate thread on which to express my concerns, since it’s about education.
While reading the Monday, August 21, 2030 edition of the ‘Daily Nation,’ I saw two ‘Applications for work permit’ notices.
One on page 4, which indicated Sandy Lane Hotel was unable to receive suitable applications for the position of Executive Sous Chef.
While on page 6, the accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche, similarly did not “received no suitable applications for the advertised posts of Senior Auditor and Audit Manager.”
Both companies expressed “intentions to apply for a work permit for a non-national to fill the positions.”
UWI is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Every year, several students graduate from that tertiary level institution with undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in accounting……
…… as well as in cuisine, tourism and hospitality management.
BCC’s hotel school has been in existence since the 1970s.
Yet, accounting firms and hotels (especially Sandy Lane) in Barbados, have over the years been making claims of experiencing difficulties in receiving ‘suitable applications’ from Barbadians, for certain management positions.
Recently, owners of private schools have joined the trend, and are also finding it difficult to recruit local teachers.
With the PM’s promise of building so many other hotels in Barbados, I’m wondering……
🤔 🤔 🤔 ……