Aspirations for Academic Excellence - Learning, Research, Society and me
by Prof Haydn Chen, former Head, Department of Physics and Materials Science
I want to consider important issues concerning the nature of learning and research and their relationship with society. We are all part of society, so the "me" in the title encompasses every one of you.
Learning
Dr Peter Knight, from Lancaster University, UK, has developed the USES model to define the meaning of learning, which I want to share with you. USES stands for:
| Understanding | Learning involves digesting information and being able to understand. This includes mastering complex subject materials. |
|---|---|
| Skills | We develop both general and subject-specific skills. We use complex sets of skills to address each particular problem. |
| Efficacy beliefs | You believe you will benefit from the learning process and be better prepared to face challenges. You need to reflect on and judge your own achievements. |
| Strategic thinking | You have to be able to understand what is needed to be successful, and develop confidence in yourself as an independent, flexible and enquiring learner. |
Research
This approach to learning inspired me to consider a complementary acronym for research. I propose an ACCOUNTS model for research:
| Application | To put what you learn and develop into use in different situations for the benefit of self or others. |
|---|---|
| Creativity | To produce or develop a piece of work through innovative or creative thinking. |
| Contribution | To be able to contribute to your field. To be part of a larger society, by being a contributor, however small. |
| Originality | To provide something new for the field, develop original thoughts. |
| Unambiguity | To strive for absolute truths, especially in scientific and engineering fields. |
| Novelty | To seek new experiences, new ideas, break out of boundaries, take risks and put your mark on your field. |
| Timeliness | To complete your work in a timely fashion and report results at an appropriate time. Even if your work is not immediately applicable, the worth will be seen in the future. |
| Sustention | To seek sustained value for what you do. To think big, set goals high, but understand your own limitations. |
Learning and research are interdependent, and to stress the importance of both to pursuing academic excellence, here's a useful slogan:
USES learning ACCOUNTS for research
Research work is often grouped into different categories. For example, there is the dichotomy of basic research (curiosity driven) and applied research (mission driven). Another classification is a trichotomy: upper stream (fundamental), middle stream (developmental) and lower stream (engineering). But wherever your research falls in these categorisatrions, and whichever field you are working in, you are doing research, and you can apply the ACCOUNTS model to pursue excellence in your work.
Society
Society is built up of hardware and software, using the familiar terminologies of a computer. Hardware includes bodies, plants, mountains, rivers, energy, buildings, materials, transportations, communications, etc. These make up the infrastructure that gives each of us a place to live in, a desk to study at, and a friend to talk to. Software is also very important, and includes minds, intellect, religion, fine arts, passion, literature, information and so on. Society is a mixture of this hardware and software. Together they form the living world. You and you research are part of society. You should take an active part in the society in wich you live. No individual is perfect, but what we should be striving for is contributing something that is beneficial for both society and ourselves. Each small contribution can make society a bit better.
... and me
Let's look beyond academic aspirations, and consider aspirations in general. As human beings we have a whole range of aspirations whilst we are growing up. As infants we are hungry and thirsty, as toddlers curious and affectionate. As children we are challenging and exploring and as adolescents passionate and experimenting. As adults we want to find joy and fulfilment. These are the aspirations that drive what we do.
We all had a range of aspirations when we were younger; we have just forgotten them. They have been buried under the heavy load of daily work and study. We need to pause and reflect, to find our aspirations again. To rediscover and act on your aspirations, you must really want them. It is only then that you can apply your aspirations to your research.
You need to take risks, explore and do things that are out of the ordinary. Do not be constrained by what you have been taught. Remember, both teachers and students are learners. Try not to be restricted by traditional boundaries, whether they are physical or mental. It is important to be open-minded and realise that other people's opinions are just as valid as your own. Try and look at the other side of the story.
And finally, try and enjoy the process of research. It is a long journey. The process is the most joyful and challenging part as you strive for your goal of academic excellence. It is a labour of love. Make sure you take time to smell the roses along the way!