I think less because a new school can get a pass by having a credit but the other idea that has emerged in this conversation that the kids won’t need them.

In the US today there are no jobs no matter what piece of paper you have. There is nothing on the horizon to change that.

So a BA + 40K of debt is a millstone. Soon parents and kids will get smart and walk away

But I think the shift will go from institutional certification to assessing individuals. Degrees will still be recognized by Universities and between themselves. Degrees are important to these entities.

The world outside of universities and colleges doesn’t really need to make hiring decisions based on degrees. In many situations a degree does not create real value for the employer. It has been a long time since I’ve heard someone around me say “Lets hire a computer science graduate”.

In the past we were not in a position to assess educational level. The degree played a big role. Now we are more interested in finding people who can do the job. I have been involved in 3 projects so far where I see the shift.

I am a bit biased because of working on the assessment side for so long. Am mostly called in to projects where assessmemnt can play a major role.

And Daniel it sure would be interesting to get your views on how collaborative filtering could play a role in assessment models.

A degree (diploma) is a byproduct of the press. The Network world will/should create a new mechanism.

Gilbert

For example, you get a degree certificed by institute Y. Employers start looking for certified degrees. All of a sudden, the University of Phoenix offers certified degrees… It is all downhill from there for heavy-league schools.

Certification will eventually achieve critical mass. Not sure if the certification body wave will last very long.

As external certification bodies gain acceptance alternate forms to classroom teaching grab a share of the markets.Extra pressure on universities hurt them. The university reputations go down hill. Enrolment declines and reputation gets even worse. Certification gains in value.

The value of a diploma to employers is highly psychological. Once people start questioning the value of diplomas the system can fall very quickly. Many of us don’t really give a hoot about what paper someone has. And in the work I currently do the diploma has no relevance.

I think that the certification wave will become predominant for a few years and then it will be replaced by a more “Network/Web” way of aknowledging competency.

Certification/Assessment done in a social networking context seems to be a natural extension to changes we have seen in other places. The technologies to support this aren’t quite there but they are very close.

In a world where you buy expensive items on Ebay, where you find a mate on PlentyOfFish why could you certainly figure out a way to assess competencies without depending on a diploma from one network instance.

I think it is time to let the “Network” do its thing.

Gilbert