Solutions, solutions
At a meeting today in another university a professor from that university, in describing one of its teaching programmes, called it a ‘learning solution’. At another university I visited recently the restaurant menu was headed ‘catering solutions’.
I have to admit I have a particular dislike of the word ‘solution’ used in this way. It seems to have entered common usage via marketing jargon, where every unnecessary product or service could be labelled a ‘solution’, to make it appear that it offered something useful in addressing real life problems. I really hope that this kind of nonsense doesn’t now become common in universities. We have enough jargon as it is.
Explore posts in the same categories: culture, higher educationTags: cliches, jargon, solutions
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.
University Blog 
October 8, 2009 at 6:58 am
Going forward, a dynamic wide ranging review (involving key stakeholders) of terminology solutions is required. The terms of reference to be:
to develop and foster a culture of evaluation and reflection and commitment to the maintenance of jargon.
to keep under review and develop university jargon policy and procedures in line with international best practice
to monitor issues relating to quality of platitudes and to make recommendations to Senior Management as appropriate
to oversee and support units in undertaking jargon-assessment
October 8, 2009 at 7:14 am
that and logistics where used rather than ‘Movers’ or carriers of cargo.
October 8, 2009 at 8:18 am
This is nothing new. Thirty years ago, I heard an engineer describe three Portaloos in a field as a “sanitation complex”!!
October 8, 2009 at 9:35 am
Well, if you can have problem-based learning, then “learning solution” was a disaster waiting to happen.