Founded in 1209, Cambridge University Lost Its Way: Higher Ed in US, India, China and More Isn't Doing So Hot Either

 Anyone who's operated within the university system knows it's usually rigid, arrogant,  petty about details and moves at a glacial pace. 

Therefore, it's shocking that the Jason Arday hiring took place at Cambridge University in 2023. Founded in 1209, it's a model of an old-line institution of higher education. 

As The New York Times documents:

"The school ignored a series of warnings about his life story and his work."

Specifically Arday lacked requirements for the professorial position such as a sturdy record of publications and hands-on experience guiding doctoral students. 

The pressure point which diverted Cambridge from its traditional MO seems to be the diversity mandate. It wound up lost and so did Arday. 

Although Arday's previous record of teaching positions in other settings was lackluster, he was placed on a high-profile international platform for academic excellence and quickly became a target for critics. The rest is history. He died on August 14, 2026. 

So, just as in the US, the university in England/UK is now under scrutiny. 

Here in America financial leader Marc Rowan, Apollo CEO, is leading the campaign to disrupt higher education. Diversity initiatives have been part of what have been on the menu for reform. But only part. There is also the collective rage about rising cost, student loan debt, mismatch between the curriculum and what the labor market needs and political ideology.

This force field can spread beyond England/UK and the US. 

For example, in India, 11 million of the 60 million university graduates between 20 and 29 are jobless. Many of them refuse employment, such as hauling bags of cement, which doesn't use their education. China also has a "graduate glut." So do countries in Europe.

Yet, the irony is that in myriad locations the best and brightest 1) Compete to get admitted to the college of their choice and 2) Balk on professional networks, ranging from LinkedIn to Reddit subunits, when the degree isn't marketable. 

Obviously, lessons aren't being learned. Back in the early1970s, the market for humanities professors collapsed. That was after government projected in 1967 the extreme demand for such expertise. It even funded PhD studies to provide the manpower. 

Well, We The Generation of Lost Scholars scrambled for years to put together a non-academic way to earn a good living. Then, like now, that usually required our lopping off advanced degrees from our job-search credentials.

In coaching, I guide clients to assess what the university system is trying to sell. What's the commercial benefit for them? Can they afford to invest the time and money in education for its own sake?

The success heavyweights such as law firm Paul, Weiss partner Brad Karp only consumed as much higher education as was necessary for licensing in their field. That was the JD. Although Karp specializes in serving Wall Street clients he didn't pile on the MBA. Essentially he learned on the job. 

In addition, other heavyweights such as OpenAI's Sam Altman didn't take the time to pick up any degree. Billionaire Peter Thiel funds youth to skip the university and do a start-up.

Careers. Forget all that. It’s about earning a good living, no matter what.

Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova, StreetSmart Coaching (janegenova374@gmail.com)



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