Oh for f**** sake.

[Kirstie]

hehehe, i'm just laughing at people who go to university and do extra degrees in stuff that means nothing, unless its law or doctors or architects or something

You're better off getting a job at 18 and fulfilling at least half a dream

What if your dream is to do research in your chosen field? You can't do that effectively without a doctorate...

 

[Dave5N]

Most MAs are a bit of a joke, especially the popular ones for older people like management or education - noddy courses to give someone a year off from classroom teaching or perhaps a day a week away from the office. They seem to have as much intellectual content as a PGCE to me, but many employers, in the public sector especially, seem to value paper qualifications even if they are meaningless.

Do you have any evidence to substantiate this statement or is it personal prejudice?

 

[Aint Skeered]

*SOAPBOX ALERT SOAPBOX ALERT*

 

[NickM]

In all my years of working I've seen an NVQ get further than any doctorate...

Ah. The illusion of "progress".

 

[simoncc]

Do you have any evidence to substantiate this statement or is it personal prejudice?

I've no reason to be prejudiced against MAs. If they are taken immediately after a degree by a youngster to increase or widen their degree subject knowledge they can serve some purpose, but in my experience they are increasingly taken by middle-aged staff stuck in a rut. They seem to be some form of in-service training but I'm not convinced how useful they are or why such training needs to be dignified with a degree certificate.

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

I've no reason to be prejudiced against MAs. If they are taken immediately after a degree by a youngster to increase or widen their degree subject knowledge they can serve some purpose, but in my experience they are increasingly taken by middle-aged staff stuck in a rut. They seem to be some form of in-service training but I'm not convinced how useful they are or why such training needs to be dignified with a degree certificate.

I regularly get mailshots from universities offering part time further degrees in specialist areas of the law pitching quite clearly against the commercial training market, which they obviously see as a rival.

 

[Arch]

You know, it's just occurred to me that you probably could fit a baby elephant in my car...

How old and how big does it have to be before it stops being a baby elephant?

Once it's too big to smuggle out of a zoo in a normal sort of car (not a mini, perhaps, but a normal family car), then it's not a baby.

I'll allow up to a decent sized estate car - but not anything that becomes classed as a light goods vehicle.

That would have become a teenaged elephant, and more stroppy.

 

[gavintc]

I have taken a post grad diploma when I was 30 and have just submitted my dissertation for my MSc at age 50. I did not go to uni and have no first degree. Both were undertaken as part time - distance learning courses. I learnt from both and have taken learning from each course to assist me in my job. For me, the learning has been helpful and would certainly encourage others to undertake further education.

 

[Speicher]

Once it's too big to smuggle out of a zoo in a normal sort of car (not a mini, perhaps, but a normal family car), then it's not a baby.

I'll allow up to a decent sized estate car - but not anything that becomes classed as a light goods vehicle.

That would have become a teenaged elephant, and more stroppy.

What about if you borrowed a small van, with the letters Veterinary Surgeon - Speciality in Elephants (oops no, a big van to fit all that on) and also borrowed the baby elephant?

 

[Amanda P]

You know, I think I prefer the discussion of fitting elephants in vehicles to the one about postgraduate qualifications and how far they get you. Much less rancour, and more fun.

I'll allow up to a decent sized estate car - but not anything that becomes classed as a light goods vehicle.

In that case, may car's not a car and doesn't qualify. But it would be a lot more suitable for elephant smuggling:

• More hygienic - you can hose it out
• No windows in the back, so snooping zoo keepers won't rumble you.
• The kind of vehicle used by builders the world over, so won't arouse suspicion when seen driving around insize a zoo.

 

[TheDoctor]

Once it's too big to smuggle out of a zoo in a normal sort of car (not a mini, perhaps, but a normal family car), then it's not a baby.

I'll allow up to a decent sized estate car - but not anything that becomes classed as a light goods vehicle.

That would have become a teenaged elephant, and more stroppy.

Well, mine is fairly short (oo-er) but quite tall. If I flop the back seats down, I can get a bike in lengthways if the front wheel is removed, and maybe sideways, and it's tall enough to stand a bike up. I think I'd get a small baby elephant in, but it might be a bit tight. It wouldn't have much room to move about, so I wonder if it might be a bit unkind. i think I'd sooner walk with the BE on a lead, even if it did take some time. I can't imagine a nicer way to spend a few days (well, actually I can, and a few, but that's by-the-by, and I probably wouldn't get the option anyway) than walking an elephant back to TheDoctor Towers

 

[Arch]

I have taken a post grad diploma when I was 30 and have just submitted my dissertation for my MSc at age 50. I did not go to uni and have no first degree. Both were undertaken as part time - distance learning courses. I learnt from both and have taken learning from each course to assist me in my job. For me, the learning has been helpful and would certainly encourage others to undertake further education.

now, now gavin, you're being sensible and not trying to score points, that won't do at all....

My priorites have changed somewhat since I took my MSc and started my PhD, and I don't now expect either of them to get me a job, bar the fact that they demonstrate an ability to learn, and the various IT skills I've picked up along the way. In fact, I suspect they will hinder me in somes cases, because I'm 'overqualified'. But I couldn't foresee circumstances when I started out, so I'll just have to live with it and get on as best I can.

 

[Arch]

Well, mine is fairly short (oo-er) but quite tall. If I flop the back seats down, I can get a bike in lengthways if the front wheel is removed, and maybe sideways, and it's tall enough to stand a bike up. I think I'd get a small baby elephant in, but it might be a bit tight. It wouldn't have much room to move about, so I wonder if it might be a bit unkind. i think I'd sooner walk with the BE on a lead, even if it did take some time. I can't imagine a nicer way to spend a few days (well, actually I can, and a few, but that's by-the-by, and I probably wouldn't get the option anyway) than walking an elephant back to TheDoctor Towers

I think your car might be fine for a baby elephant for a little way, because it could lie down, with it's legs tucked under it, and push it's trunk through between the front seats. If it was very clever, it could change gear for you.

But I agree, walking would be nicer. And probably kinder to your car's suspension. If it was a hot day, the BE would need a blanket to keep the sun off, and cream to protect it's ears - I saw that on the elephant orphanage programme on telly. In the wild, they shelter from the sun under their mums....

 

[Arch]

You know, I think I prefer the discussion of fitting elephants in vehicles to the one about postgraduate qualifications and how far they get you. Much less rancour, and more fun.

So do I!

In that case, may car's not a car and doesn't qualify. But it would be a lot more suitable for elephant smuggling:

• More hygienic - you can hose it out
• No windows in the back, so snooping zoo keepers won't rumble you.
• The kind of vehicle used by builders the world over, so won't arouse suspicion when seen driving around insize a zoo.

You've thought this through, I like it.

Ok, we use your car, Speicher can arrange some suitable logos and livery for the side, and the Doc can come along with all his spare dog leads, in case it won't get in the car, or we want to give it a run round once we get it out of the zoo.

We'll also need some water for it to drink, and a lot of buns.

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

In fact, I suspect they will hinder me in somes cases, because I'm 'overqualified'.

Come, come, Arch, have you no idea of the lies told on CVs? The average applicant for a job at McDonalds will claim at least 2 Ph.Ds. I know someone who blagged his way into a very senior job in an engineering company by claiming to have degree in PPE from Oxford. He had no degree at all (I think he had started a plumbing course, but not finished it) and correctly reasoned that if he claimed to have an engineering degree he'd be rumbled, but no one else would have read PPE, and he could bluff.