大学で学べること

125 Comments

インターネットのコラムなど見ていると，大学は役にたたない，と言われてることがあると思います．これは多くの場合，大学を「使う」側の目的意識が明確ではないからです．何をしたいかを特に決めてなくて，ぼんやりと大学に進学しても得られるものはなくて，その結果そんなに役に立った感じがしない，ということです．

極端な例で言えば，水泳教室に行ったけど走り方は学べません．それに憤慨した人が「水泳教室は走るために役に立たない」と言っても，入る教室を間違えましたね，というだけです．私は大学教員なので，大学は役に立たないという声に反応しなければ怠慢だと言われそうですが，しかし大学は（水泳教室よりも教育内容の幅はあれど，とはいえ）何でも屋ではないのです．目的なく進学したり，目的のミスマッチがあった状態で進学して役に立たなかったと言われても，ああそうですか，以上のことは言えません．蕎麦屋に行ってもうどんは出てきません．何をしたいか明確でない人たちを満足させるのが役割だとは思いません．

大学側がするべきことは，まず大学で何が学べるかを明確にすることだと思います．自分たちの教育機関ではこれを提供するのが役割ですと明確にしないから，学生が混乱するし，色んな期待をしてしまうのだと思います．学生が何をしたら役に立ちそうかを想像して，あれもこれもできると何でも屋になるべきではないと思います．余談ながら私が距離を置いている考え方に「マーケットを見ろ」というのがあります．他人の動向や好き嫌いを見ていても，本質的なことはできませんし，何者にもならずにキャリアを終えるだけです．マーケットは自分の力の２割くらいでだけ気にして，残りの力は自分の大事なことにつぎ込むべきだと思っています．

前置きが長くなりましたが，少し範囲を狭めて，「理工系の研究大学」が学生に提供できるものは何かという考えを述べたいと思います．私の思う理工系の研究大学が提供するものは「研究活動を通じた教育」です．何を言いたいかわかりづらいと思うので，細かく説明したいと思います．

大前提として，研究大学（以下「大学」）の主な意義は，これまでに世の中に存在しなかった知識を生み出すことです．新しい知識を生み出す活動を，特定の学術的な題材（数学だったり物理だったり）で行うとも言えます．私は題材が何であれ，新しい知識を生み出すことに大学のユニークさがあると思っています．こういった活動に興味がない人は，大学そのものから得られることは少なそうです．不満が募ると思いますから，大学には進学しないのが良いと思います．一方で，ちょっとでも面白いと思ったらぜひ体験して欲しいです．

では実際に，どのような風に「知識を生み出す」ための教育をやっているのでしょうか．これはいくつかの段階を経ていると考えています．

学部課程．大学の役割が新しい知識を生み出すことだとしても，まず学部３年生くらいまでは「既に存在する知識を学ぶこと」に時間の大半を使うことが多そうです．これは高校までと似ていますね．基礎知識はスポーツでいう筋トレのようなものだと思うので，やっておいて損はしないと思います．一方で，既に存在する知識を学ぶのと，これまでに世の中に存在しなかった知識を生み出すのは，違うスキルになります．努力量が共通の変数になって，ゆるやかな相関くらいはあるかもしれませんが，根本的に違うスキルです．

学部研究．日本の大学では学部４年生で研究をすると思います．この研究活動を通じて，大学生は新しい知識を生み出すことに初めて取り組むと思います．メンター・研究室によってスタイルはありますが，大体の場合，この辺に新しいことがありそうだよ，とメンターの助言を得たり，問題の輪郭を明確に定義してもらった上で，問題を解くのが役割です．（これは余談ながら，アメリカやシンガポールの大学では全員がやるわけではありません．４年次の卒論は日本の大学の教育的に優れたところかと思います．）それなりに難しいと思います．

修士課程．修士課程では学部よりも少しヒントが少ない状態で研究に取り組むことになると思います．学部課程に引き続き，授業のような形で知識を学ぶこともあり，問題を解くことも大事です．差分でいうと「自分で問題を見つける役割」が増えます．これくらいになると，これまでの教育の主な内容であった「既に存在する知識を学ぶこと」とは少しずつ毛色が変わってきます．２年間で取り組む問題を１つ決めて，答えを出して，論文にできたら修了です．まあまあ難しいと思います．

博士課程．博士課程の場合も，修士課程のように研究は続けます．少しずつメンターのサポートなしで自走していくのが目的です．引き続き，既存の知識を学ぶ，問題を見つける，問題を解く，ことに加えて，問題の広い意義を説明するとか，自分の取り組んだ問題を既存の知識の中に（あるいは外に）体系的に位置づけて説明する，ようなことができると良いと思います．この段階になると，Google 検索で問題が出てることはありません．その問いを立てたのは世の中で自分が初めてなので、当然答えが出てくることもありません．上記のような学術活動をメンターのサポートなしで行えるようになったら，博士課程の成果としては万々歳だと思います．かなり難しいと思います．

以上，ざっくりとしたイメージですが，大学での研究を通じた教育というのは，下記のような流れだと思います．

  知識を学ぶ 知識を生む 教育効果
学部課程 〇   既に存在する知識を学ぶ
学部研究 〇 〇 明確に定義された問題を解く
修士課程 〇 〇 問題を見つけて，それを解く
博士課程 一生続く 〇 問題を見つけて，それを解いて，その意義を体系的に説明する

上記のような話を所与として，所感を述べようと思います．

私が大学教育の一番の価値だと思うのは，既に存在する知識を学ぶ人から，これまでに世の中に存在しなかった知識を生み出す人への変化が起こることです．この概念を理解するのは意外と難しいです．私は博士課程の終盤までかかってた気がします．勘の良い人は学部で理解できますし，修士までかかる人もいるし，博士課程でできる人もいます．世の中の誰もが研究者になるわけではないのですが，人口の一定割合がこのような活動に部分的にでも触れたことがあると言うのは，社会の強みになると思うので，私は大学には社会的な価値があると考えています．

社会人の偉い人が好んで言う「答えのない問いに向かう力」というのは，学部の研究くらいから少しずつ学ぶことです．現状のカリキュラムで研究経験のない学部生を集めても，高校生とあまり違わないかもしれません．学部を卒業した経験のみを元に大学での学びを総括すると「大学は知識を得て，問題を解く場所」という感想になると思います．そのような見方だと，インターネットのビデオを見てたら十分，という感覚も理解はできます．そして日本の政策決定者の多くはこのグループに属しているので，認識のギャップがあるように思っています．とはいえ「大学の授業に参加したから，大学の価値・意義はよくわかっている」というなら，「起業家のセミナーに参加したので，起業の価値・意義はよくわかっている」というくらいの勘違いです．

理工系大学で扱うトピックは物理・化学・生物などなので，「実世界の問題」に比べて，条件や変数が制御されているかもしれないです（それでも十分に複雑ですが）．そして，そのような問いに向き合うのが意味がないかというと私はそうは思わなくて，既にどんな考え方があるか理解する，それと差別化する，それを文字や口頭で説明するなど，新しい問いに取り組むために必要な汎用的スキルだと考えています．一般にアメリカなどで博士号取得者が一定の評価を受けるのは，このようなスキルに対する評価があるからです．

長々と書きましたが，研究への取り組み方は個人差が大きいので，どの段階で何が出来ている，というのが決まってるわけではないとも思います．もっと良い説明の仕方があれば教えて欲しいです．反論・異論なども聞きたいです．

いずれにしても，理工系の研究大学に進学する機会がある学生は，大学教育の特徴を理解した上で，自分の教育機会のために使い倒して欲しいと思います．

125 thoughts on “大学で学べること”

  1. Жèнá зaбрaлá вcю зaрплaту? Зáрaботaй нa зáнáчку!
    Надоело работать на чужого дядю? Мечтаешь открыть свое дело? Жµть от зарплаты до зарплаты — отстой? Изменµть жизнь
    https://is.gd/FdmIfm

  7. certainly like your website but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts.
    Many of them are rife with spelling problems and
    I find it very troublesome to tell the reality however I'll surely come back again.

  8. I think this is one of the most significant info for
    me. And i'm glad reading your article. But wanna remark on some general things, The website style is perfect, the articles is really excellent :
    D. Good job, cheers

  16. I have to express some appreciation to the writer just for rescuing me from this type of issue. As a result of checking throughout the world-wide-web and finding recommendations that were not powerful, I was thinking my entire life was done. Being alive without the presence of strategies to the issues you have solved by means of your good report is a crucial case, as well as the ones which may have adversely affected my career if I hadn't noticed your web site. Your own personal expertise and kindness in handling all the things was important. I don't know what I would've done if I hadn't discovered such a point like this. It's possible to at this point relish my future. Thank you so much for the high quality and amazing help. I will not think twice to refer your blog post to any person who requires recommendations about this area.

  17. I together with my guys came studying the best guides located on your site and so all of the sudden developed a terrible feeling I never thanked you for those tips. My women were certainly happy to read them and now have absolutely been using them. Thank you for simply being really kind and then for finding this kind of essential resources millions of individuals are really wanting to understand about. Our sincere apologies for not saying thanks to sooner.

  18. I together with my buddies appeared to be examining the excellent secrets found on your web page and then the sudden got a horrible feeling I had not expressed respect to the site owner for those strategies. The ladies were definitely for that reason excited to read through all of them and have seriously been having fun with them. Thank you for getting simply thoughtful and then for going for these kinds of remarkable things most people are really eager to discover. My personal sincere regret for not expressing gratitude to earlier.

  19. I would like to express some appreciation to the writer just for bailing me out of this particular difficulty. Right after surfing through the search engines and getting recommendations which were not productive, I believed my entire life was gone. Existing without the presence of answers to the problems you have resolved all through your good short post is a crucial case, as well as ones which may have negatively affected my entire career if I had not encountered your web page. Your mastery and kindness in touching a lot of things was important. I'm not sure what I would have done if I had not come across such a subject like this. I can also at this point relish my future. Thank you so much for your impressive and result oriented help. I won't think twice to propose the sites to any individual who should have direction on this situation.

  21. I actually wanted to jot down a quick note so as to say thanks to you for all the precious information you are posting on this site. My time intensive internet investigation has now been honored with wonderful knowledge to talk about with my guests. I would state that that many of us visitors actually are truly fortunate to exist in a magnificent place with so many wonderful professionals with great strategies. I feel extremely blessed to have seen your weblog and look forward to many more brilliant moments reading here. Thanks once again for all the details.

  22. Thanks a lot for giving everyone remarkably spectacular possiblity to read critical reviews from this site. It is often very nice and as well , packed with a lot of fun for me personally and my office peers to visit the blog at a minimum thrice in a week to read through the fresh items you have. And of course, I'm so actually astounded considering the sensational hints served by you. Some 4 tips on this page are in truth the most impressive I have had.

  23. Thanks so much for providing individuals with an extraordinarily terrific opportunity to read from this site. It is always so nice and also packed with a great time for me personally and my office colleagues to search your website minimum 3 times per week to learn the latest guides you have got. Of course, we're certainly fulfilled with your impressive tips and hints you serve. Selected two ideas in this article are absolutely the simplest we have had.

  24. A lot of thanks for your whole work on this site. Gloria take interest in managing investigations and it is simple to grasp why. Most people hear all about the powerful means you present useful ideas on this website and as well strongly encourage response from some others about this situation plus my girl is really understanding so much. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the new year. You are always conducting a pretty cool job.

  25. I want to show my appreciation for your kind-heartedness for men who actually need help with your idea. Your very own commitment to passing the solution up and down turned out to be incredibly informative and have continually empowered women much like me to achieve their targets. This useful help and advice means much a person like me and even more to my office colleagues. Thank you; from everyone of us.

  26. I precisely wished to thank you very much again. I am not sure the things that I would have undertaken without those tactics contributed by you directly on this area of interest. It was before a real troublesome case in my position, but taking a look at the very specialised strategy you treated it took me to weep for delight. I will be happy for this service and then pray you are aware of a great job you're carrying out teaching the mediocre ones using your blog post. I'm certain you haven't met any of us.

  27. I wish to show my appreciation to this writer for bailing me out of this particular scenario. As a result of searching throughout the world wide web and getting things which are not pleasant, I figured my entire life was well over. Living without the presence of answers to the issues you've solved through this short post is a critical case, and those which could have adversely damaged my career if I had not come across your web page. Your actual mastery and kindness in handling the whole thing was very useful. I don't know what I would've done if I had not discovered such a subject like this. I am able to now relish my future. Thanks a lot very much for your specialized and effective guide. I will not hesitate to endorse the website to any individual who needs to have guide about this issue.

  28. Thank you for each of your efforts on this blog. My niece enjoys working on investigations and it's simple to grasp why. A lot of people notice all concerning the compelling form you produce good steps by means of this web site and cause participation from the others on this article while our favorite princess has always been starting to learn a whole lot. Take advantage of the rest of the new year. You are always performing a pretty cool job.

  29. I as well as my friends were checking the best solutions located on the website and quickly got a terrible suspicion I never expressed respect to the web blog owner for those tips. Most of the men were totally stimulated to read them and have in effect clearly been using them. Thanks for genuinely quite thoughtful as well as for going for variety of high-quality issues most people are really needing to understand about. Our own honest apologies for not expressing gratitude to you sooner.

  30. I must express thanks to this writer for rescuing me from this type of situation. Because of surfing around through the world wide web and coming across notions which are not pleasant, I was thinking my life was gone. Living without the strategies to the problems you have resolved by means of this site is a crucial case, as well as ones which could have badly affected my career if I hadn't come across your blog. Your personal skills and kindness in touching all the things was excellent. I'm not sure what I would've done if I hadn't come across such a stuff like this. I am able to now relish my future. Thanks so much for this skilled and effective guide. I will not be reluctant to endorse the website to anybody who needs to have recommendations about this matter.

  31. Needed to write you the very small note to be able to thank you again on the unique suggestions you have shared in this case. It has been simply tremendously open-handed of people like you to convey easily just what a number of us would have advertised for an ebook in making some bucks on their own, especially since you could possibly have done it in case you considered necessary. Those creative ideas also served to provide a great way to comprehend many people have the identical fervor just like my own to realize a good deal more on the subject of this issue. I think there are several more pleasant opportunities ahead for individuals that go through your blog.

  32. I wanted to put you that tiny note so as to say thanks a lot again for those great secrets you've provided in this article. It has been really remarkably generous of you giving easily all many individuals could have distributed for an e book to generate some profit on their own, particularly given that you could possibly have tried it in the event you wanted. The ideas likewise worked to be a easy way to be sure that some people have similar desire much like my personal own to know very much more regarding this matter. Certainly there are a lot more pleasant moments in the future for folks who go through your website.

  33. I as well as my guys have already been digesting the good secrets and techniques located on your website and so immediately developed an awful suspicion I never thanked the site owner for those techniques. The women are actually consequently glad to read all of them and already have extremely been tapping into these things. I appreciate you for genuinely considerably considerate and also for selecting these kinds of excellent resources most people are really eager to be informed on. Our honest regret for not saying thanks to you earlier.

  34. My wife and i ended up being more than happy that Jordan managed to round up his web research because of the precious recommendations he gained from your very own weblog. It is now and again perplexing to just always be releasing concepts which often people may have been trying to sell. Therefore we fully understand we have the website owner to thank because of that. Most of the explanations you made, the straightforward web site navigation, the friendships you will aid to engender - it's got many astonishing, and it's facilitating our son and the family consider that this topic is thrilling, and that is exceptionally indispensable. Thank you for all the pieces!

  35. I really wanted to write a brief comment to be able to thank you for those awesome guides you are posting on this website. My time consuming internet research has at the end of the day been compensated with reliable points to go over with my family and friends. I would point out that most of us readers are really blessed to dwell in a magnificent place with very many outstanding people with very helpful guidelines. I feel quite fortunate to have used your entire webpages and look forward to really more thrilling times reading here. Thanks a lot again for all the details.

  36. I not to mention my guys were analyzing the good guides located on the website and then developed a horrible suspicion I had not expressed respect to the site owner for those techniques. Most of the men came totally glad to learn all of them and now have absolutely been enjoying these things. Appreciate your genuinely really considerate and also for picking certain nice ideas most people are really desirous to understand about. My honest regret for not expressing appreciation to earlier.

  37. NO.5 Gucci Dionysus series super mini handbag ￥6000 This is a relatively cheap bag from Gucci, and it is the Dionysus series. The tiger head is matched with taupe leather details. It is very special and there is no bad street. The styles of presbyopia are versatile and attractive, and can be carried all year round.

  40. I'm writing to let you know what a outstanding discovery my cousin's daughter obtained studying your blog. She noticed such a lot of pieces, with the inclusion of what it's like to possess an amazing helping heart to have other individuals easily have an understanding of specific extremely tough matters. You truly did more than our desires. I appreciate you for showing the invaluable, safe, edifying not to mention fun guidance on the topic to Ethel.

  41. My husband and i felt quite excited Peter could carry out his web research through your ideas he came across from your own blog. It's not at all simplistic to just happen to be making a gift of things that a number of people could have been making money from. So we remember we need the website owner to be grateful to for this. The specific illustrations you've made, the straightforward site menu, the friendships you will assist to foster - it is many unbelievable, and it's letting our son in addition to us understand the theme is thrilling, which is especially pressing. Thank you for all!

  42. I truly wanted to jot down a quick word so as to express gratitude to you for the splendid points you are giving on this website. My time-consuming internet investigation has finally been compensated with reliable points to talk about with my best friends. I 'd assert that most of us readers are undeniably blessed to exist in a superb community with so many outstanding professionals with beneficial ideas. I feel rather privileged to have seen the webpages and look forward to so many more entertaining moments reading here. Thank you once again for a lot of things.

  43. Ashamed protagonist. And the pure color bags can also break the complex feeling of striped sleeves and make the whole shape easier. The attentive little cutie may have discovered that there is an appropriate "same color echo" in this shape, that is, the slightly embellished red in the printed shirt, which forms a good connection with the color of the bag, so that the whole shape does not appear abrupt, everyone. You can refer to it when matching! ▼

  44. I'm commenting to let you be aware of what a fabulous encounter my friend's daughter obtained visiting your web page. She discovered plenty of things, with the inclusion of what it is like to possess a marvelous coaching spirit to have most people effortlessly fully grasp specified tortuous subject matter. You actually did more than our own desires. Thanks for producing those helpful, dependable, edifying not to mention cool tips on your topic to Gloria.

  45. I in addition to my buddies came analyzing the best ideas from the blog and then got a terrible feeling I had not thanked the web site owner for them. All the women appeared to be for this reason glad to read through them and have unquestionably been loving these things. We appreciate you simply being well considerate and then for having varieties of fantastic themes millions of individuals are really desirous to know about. Our own honest regret for not expressing gratitude to sooner.

  46. I wanted to construct a small message so as to appreciate you for the fantastic strategies you are giving out on this website. My time-consuming internet search has at the end been paid with professional content to share with my friends and classmates. I 'd assert that we readers are undeniably fortunate to be in a useful site with so many lovely individuals with useful points. I feel rather grateful to have used the web page and look forward to so many more fun minutes reading here. Thanks once again for a lot of things.

  47. My husband and i were now joyous that Louis managed to finish off his basic research out of the ideas he got using your weblog. It's not at all simplistic just to possibly be freely giving tips which other people have been trying to sell. And we also understand we need you to be grateful to for that. All the explanations you've made, the simple blog menu, the relationships you assist to engender - it's got everything exceptional, and it is making our son and our family understand this theme is thrilling, and that's very important. Many thanks for the whole lot!

  48. A lot of thanks for your own hard work on this site. Betty delights in carrying out investigation and it's simple to grasp why. Most people know all regarding the lively tactic you present functional strategies by means of the website and as well as recommend contribution from other individuals about this situation then our favorite princess is truly understanding a whole lot. Take pleasure in the rest of the year. You are doing a great job.

  49. I not to mention my guys appeared to be reading through the nice helpful tips located on your web site while unexpectedly I had an awful feeling I had not expressed respect to the website owner for them. These guys are actually for that reason passionate to study all of them and have in effect really been having fun with them. We appreciate you simply being well accommodating as well as for picking certain wonderful issues millions of individuals are really wanting to discover. My personal honest regret for not saying thanks to you earlier.

  50. Thanks so much for providing individuals with such a spectacular opportunity to read in detail from this website. It's usually so great and packed with amusement for me personally and my office colleagues to search your site at a minimum three times in 7 days to see the fresh guides you will have. And lastly, I'm just at all times fulfilled with your superb solutions served by you. Certain 4 points in this post are indeed the most suitable we have ever had.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.