Comment on AI is driving down the price of knowledge – universities have to rethink what they offer
ter_maxima@jlai.lu 1 month ago
Universities have not been in the business if monetizing knowledge for decades, if not centuries.
Knowledge has been easy to access for a LONG time. Universities give you access to a well constructed curriculum, competent teachers, and a certificate you actually learnt the material somewhat decently.
American universities are too expensive, yes, but American anything means you pay more and you get less, so singling out universities is missing the forest for a tree (even if arguably one of the biggest of those trees)
LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Insightful. I think what happened with tuition was that universities were actually undercharging u ntil around 1980, when they realized they could charge a lot more so they did. In America there’s a prevailing mindset that the economy boomers grew up in was normal, and today’s economy is stunted. Today’s economy is simply what it would have been decades go if the business world had risked charging higher prices and paying lower wages back then instead of waiting for an excuse like COVID.
skarn@lemmy.today 1 month ago
My understanding was that the law was changed in the US so student loans couldn’t be wiped by bankruptcy, and the government then increased how much it could loan due to the security. Tuitions rose to meet the new supply.
suburban_hillbilly@lemmy.ml 1 month ago
It is still possible to discharge student loans in bankruptcy in the US. It does require meeting a more stringent test than other unsecured debt for loans that covered tuition specifically, but the large majority of people who seek relief through bankruptcy get it. Last I looked it was more than 90% get at least some relief.
skarn@lemmy.today 1 month ago
TIL, thank you!