The Provision of Technological Courses in Universities, Technical Colleges, and National Colleges

Abstract

At the last two meetings of the British Association the view was expressed, without dissent, that the most urgent need today is not for further scientific discovery but for a more intensive application in industry of discoveries already made. The achievement of the highest rate of industrial development, and the highest level of industrial efficiency, depends primarily on an adequate supply of technologists, and the present supply appears to be inadequate both in quantity and quality. The provision of courses in technology has not hitherto been planned; many courses have come into being as the result of private generosity and not as the result of deliberate educational policy. At this critical juncture in our economic life, the whole question of technological courses merits the most careful examination. The principal aspects of the problem appear to be: (1) In the case of full-time degree and diploma courses, is the provision adequate; should the number of students in the existing courses be increased? Are there other branches of technology for which courses should be provided? (2) Is the general structure of degree and diploma courses satisfactory? If not, what modifications are desirable? (3) Should there be far more provision of post-graduate courses of various types? (4) What modifications, if any, are desirable in part-time courses of the National Certificate type? (5) Do courses in technology need liberalizing, and how can this best be done? (6) Good management is an essential factor in securing the highest standard of industrial efficiency; how can management studies best be incorporated in technological courses? Subsidiary questions arise, but if answers can be obtained to the principal questions it will be simpler to plan further developments in technological education.