Recently, I posted about a laundry detergent I bought in India that features "Vibrating molecules" (TM) and wryly commented that the marketing of some universities is not much better. I saw that this week, again in India. I read that a former Australian cricket captain, Adam Gilchrist, [an even bigger celebrity in India than in Australia], was in Bangalore as a "Brand name Ambassador" for a particular Australian university. The university annually offers one Bradman scholarship to an Indian student for which it pays 50 per cent of the tuition for an undergraduate degree. [Unfortunately, the amount of money spent on the business class airfares associated with the launch of this scholarship probably exceeded the annual value of the scholarship].
Some measure of Gilchrist's integrity is that at the same event sponsored by the university he said he supported the introduction of legalised betting on sports in India. Many in Australia think such betting has been a disaster, leading to government intervention last year.
What is my problem with this? Gilchrist and Bradman may be cricketing legends. However, neither ever went to university or has had any engagement or interest in universities.
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I see nothing wrong in that! "(Gilchrist and Bradman may be cricketing legends. However, neither ever went to university or has had any engagement or interest in universities.)". It is not necessary to go to university and acquire conventional education. We have lots of example of such people like that and they are self-educated. I have one example in mind, our dearest Rabindranath Tagore.
ReplyDeleteSomenath,
DeleteThanks for your comment.
I fail to see your argument.
I certainly agree in the value of self-education and that there are many brilliant people who did not go to university.
My point is that you cannot represent an institution for which have no personal experience or interest. Suppose the Australian Cricket Board paid a large sum of money to a science Nobel Laureate (who had never been to a cricket game) to be their "brand name ambassador". Such an action would be harshly criticised.