Australian Universities – showing more and knowing less

| by GajalakshmiParamasivam

( August 05, 2012, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) I write in response to the Sri Lanka Guardian article ‘University Academics’ Struggle: For What?’ by ChandikaGunasinghe - Lecturer in Economics, Department of Economics, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka.

Janus, in response asks ‘The real questions that will have to be addressed by someone, someday (the question is whom?) are (i) what competes with education for the money, (ii) is the education system we have really serving the needs of our country, and (iii) are the staff and policies of our institutions aligned with the critical needs of our country in the context of the world we live in.’

In essence, Janus is completing the picture from the side of the consumer. To my mind, the value of education is to be taken at three levels:

(1) The shown (2) The known & (3) The realized.

As per my reading, Dr. ChandrikaGunasinghe is addressing more of (1) and Janus more of (2). Each one of us would complete the picture as per our own investment in education – at the appropriate level. To most academics known to me – investment in education is largely a combination of (1) and (2). Not many have risen to the level of (3). As per my own experiences, Australians are yet to realize higher education. We need to ‘show’ outsiders, know for insiders and realize for our individual selves. The moment we realize, we are naturally connected and empowered by other realized souls – beyond time and space boundaries. That is the power of Truth.

Dr. ChandrikaGunasinghestates ‘The development of human capital of an individual is mainly determined by both inborn and environmental factors, which can be influenced positively mainly through maintaining a concrete public education policy (on primary, secondary and tertiary education).’

Human Capital – like the mind being a combination of the body (environmental factors) and our inner Truth(inborn), is a combination of Money Capital and Ownership feeling Capital. The more money investment we make in education, the more we tend to ‘show’. The more we realize the value of education the greater our natural powers – as if we are that education. In terms of University education, our everyday activities would include Research and Teaching more than consumption of benefits due tomembership in the University system. The more Research value we have in our everyday life – the stronger the Common Values of Higher Education for our environment.

Sri Lankan Universities are Dependent on the Sri Lankan Government for their money capital. Those who work in the University system more for an income and less for being part of the Human Capital or more for ownership – are part of the money capital of the University system.

As per my discovery through my own research – those who are affected by likes dislikes of their seniors – are dependents and v.v. The educated, discriminate through Common Principles and Values and allocate rights and wrongs. It is for the use of this discriminative power of the human brain that we need education. Otherwise we could – like in the animal kingdom – follow majority power and confirm the principle of ‘survival of the fittest’.

In terms of Government – the Political side is this majority power side of the animal kingdom. The Administrative side represents the educational value of our country. The greater our investment in educating ourselves to know right from wrong – the stronger the Administrative system of the institution / country we are a part of. The fact that I was arrested at the University of New South Wales – for confirming that I was the highest investor in this discriminative thinking in terms of Resource Management – confirms that Australian Universities ‘show’ more than they know.

Hence, my response to Janus’ questions:

(i) ‘what competes with education for the money,’ –

more money.

(ii) ‘is the education system we have really serving the needs of our country?’ -

Political needs – yes, Administrative needs – no. The University Administration is the strongest indicator of this.

(iii) are the staff and policies of our institutions aligned with the critical needs of our country in the context of the world we live in.

To the extent they are driven by Common Values and / or practice Common Principles at least as Due Processes – yes. No more. Each one would know this answer for her/himself. The responsibility is not limited to staff alone. The responsibility rests with every family that invests in education.

Dr. ChandrikaGunasinghe states in regards to the above responsibility: ‘The major social benefits of public investment in education include; the production of enlightened citizens to assure a well-functioning liberal democracy and an increased civic participation; formation of economic equity and social mobility’

The educated citizen would interpret the principles and laws of governance of her/his environment / institution independently and govern her/himself. Those in Government positions have the responsibility to not interfere with the conduct and work of such a citizen except through the Courts. The fact that I was arrested by the Police who were dependent on the Administrators of the University of New South Wales - and therefore acted as per the latter’s likes and dislikes – confirms that Australia which enjoys a much higher status than Sri Lanka at the International level – is yet to demonstrate the above values highlighted by Dr. Gunasinghe.

The advantage Sri Lanka has is that it need not live up to the high status that Australia needs to. Hence Sri Lanka would be better off by investing in education that would take its citizens to the next higher level of discriminative thinking than prevails at the moment. This would vary as per each locality and the level of politics in that area. The higher the level of politics without faith – the lower the real value of education in that area. This holds true – of all ethnicities.

I am currently working through my own experiences in Sri Lanka to raise the level of Public Administration as well as Legal Administration – both as an international customer. I believe that this is far more valuable than idle debate about rights and wrongs which when not experienced are merely likes and dislikes dressed up as rights and wrongs by those who hold certificates of high positions.