🚀 go-pugleaf

> >When industry does show up with a supposed donation either they have
> >ulterior motives (let's donate one of our XY1000's so they'll buy more
> >of them!) or they're looking to get some cheap programming done under
> >the guise of "research" (with a tax deduction to boot!)
>
>First you say that industry would get what they need from education if they
>donated funds and then you say that getting what they need is an ulterior
>motive. Were you just venting or did you have a point?
>
>mike ching

Yes, the mere donation of something (anything) does not help the
situation.

This is particularly true when the donation is in the form of a few
computers or a contract to do some specific programming the industrial
concern happens to need right now. It might help, but that's usually a
coincidence.

If they want educational programs they have to consider donating funds
to educational programs (eg. funds for staff/faculty salaries,
unfettered funds for labs, or at least sit down and find out what will
really help the educational programs rather than their own short-term
marketing whims.)

Companies are always running over to universities to dump whatever it
is they're trying to create some noise about today. Sometimes this is
helpful but it usually leaves the universities back where they started
in regards to things like salaries for qualified staff and faculty and
creating meaningful educational programs.

In many cases it actually leaves the departments involved in a WORSE
situation since no one (politically) can say no to a whiz-bang
sounding donation but its arrival only strains staff and faculty more
to adapt to the new equipment (no joke, very serious problem, it can
be like giving a drunk a free bottle of whiskey, if you'll pardon the
analogy.)

Tails wagging dogs is the problem.

There's a hell of a lot more to creating good educational programs
than dumping a few PC's on a table and plugging them in. And companies
are usually loathe to get much involved in anything much beyond making
some equipment available.

Yet they'll complain loudly when they discover universities aren't
teaching skills they need. Something's got to give.

Now do you get my point?

Note: Of course there are admirable exceptions to the above and all
that, but I think it's safe to say if the corporations are still
complaining then the point must be valid. I don't mean to express any
ungratefulness to those companies that do understand and do try to
help.
-- 
        -Barry Shein

Software Tool & Die, Purveyors to the Trade         | bzs@world.std.com
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