Vain person asks about higher education valuability.

How do you think, is an Italian diploma saying that one is a Master in "Innovative membrane technologies for waste and drinking water treatment" useful when it comes to finding work in your country? And how "cool" is that overall?

 

Uncool, would I say. But I do not know how the Italians figure out their master’s degrees. Maybe that stands for a Master in water engineering, and the title is just derived from the topic of his Master’s thesis?

Like in Finland the name of one’s faculty decides one’s degree. When I began my studies as history major, the department of history was a part of the faculty of humanities. Later it was moved to the faculty of social studies. When I graduate I will be a master of arts since I started in the faculty of humanities, and not a master of social studies, which would be more proper.

 

Nope, the title is derived from the name of the course/speciality.

Much like in Russia where it is always "someone - title" in (or "of") "something - speciality name" (not necessarily corresponds to chair name and certainly not corresponds to faculty name.)

Uncool you say... Weee... :cry:

 

Lost in translation due fragmentation. Care to clarify, probably with an example, please?

Yes. I do recognize only the Master’s degrees of the seven original artes liberals, thought and studied in the European universities from their birth till our days, all the rest are mere derivatives of the original seven. Representing more specialized “title” is nothing more than plain vanity, a mortal sin, an inch short from hubris. And that specialization serves no-one’s interest: the possible employer may think that one’s studies are too specialized, one is not fit for this particular job. And the employee may think that he lacks the necessary education for that particular job and do not even apply for it, even if one would actually be competent. No?

 

Example 1 - Engineer in speciality "Life Safety in Technosphere".
Example 2 - Engineer-ecologist in speciality "Rational use of natural resources and protection of the environment"

Well, I think that will be a Master in water engineering.

As for the matter of excess specialization, well, there is so much to know in engineering, that when one says "I am an engineer" this is too vague. Even in 'Water treatment" there is too much, even one says he is a water treatment specialist, he is only specialist in one of the many aspects.

I did not say "I" hold this title now, did I ?
And even if I do, it is unintentional and accidental, for I am quite content with my engineering degree.

How to rewrite the title to be cool?

P.S. Yes, I know, "waste water" does not sound cool. But it smells worse than it sounds! Well, most of the time it does.

 

i think you would make a fortune if you worked for a company thats trying to set roots in africa

 

My recommendation is to say you have a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (or whatever the degree and college are). Most people will not question you further or will be sophisticated enough not to be repulsed when they question you further.

Or say you have a Masters in Osmotic Systems, or something equally obscure and sexy. Make sure it is something that can not be googled.

 

OK, thanks, but I swear, getting this degree was totally unintentional on my part!

 

So be a good Capitalist and CAPITALIZE on it! oke:

 

Hi Sergio
I imagine that the usefulness of the degree in finding a job will depend on whether there are any jobs that require that degree available. If there are companies or governments looking for people who know how to treat water so that it's drinkable, I imagine a degree from an Italian University will be a useful as one from just about anywhere else in the world (unless of course the courses taught on the subject by Italian Collages / Universities are completely wrong.
As far as the "cool" factor, it's all in how you present it (I'm assuming you asking about "Cool" in reference to impressing a young lady :evilgrin: ). For example telling a young lady that you work for the CIA is a lot more cool than saying that you "sit around all day listening in on internet chat rooms and eavesdropping on lots of phonecalls everyday" (something that CIA people do a lot of). For starters, don't even mention the words "Waste Water" or "Water Treatment". If she asks what you do, tell her that you "Use Green (aka Environmentaly friendly), High - tech solutions to keep millions of people healthy and alive." If she ask how you do that, tell her that it's a very complicated, new field of science that is constantly evolving, and so you are always investigating new technologies that are "green" and cost effective to get the job done.
The Royal Canadian

 

No, I just wanted to know if it is cool or not.

 

no its not cool, sounds like the type of work which if done in india would be done by the "untouchables"

 

Actually, that confuses me even more. Why are these “specializations” so important to notify? Of course, I am yet again biased; the original university system founded in Europe only recognized one’s academic competence in general, specialization was not yet even founded. Like one has written one’s doctoral theses about the mating rituals of several dragonflies, thet would make one not doctor of dragonfly reproduction, but a doctor of biology.

Shortly, (for once) I would actually vote for GA’s opinion:

“