Today's a day where it felt like it was me against the world.
Heard an update from the bossman about a decision the business leadership made -- one that sorely disappointed me and caused me to question whether the ethical integrity of the business is at stake. Are we really here to only support the business, so the business gets to decide everything and we just have to "grit our teeth and follow"? Shouldn't we be here as a form of check and balance as well? Did we really try hard enough to influence? Sure it's not something we can directly control, but isn't it an area of influence? Were all the stakeholders really a part of the discussion, or did the folks in the 'main region' drive this themselves? From the calls I've joined, it's clear that that region doesn't give a f*** about any region other than themselves. Why do they get to make the call globally? Don't they feel ashamed congratulating themselves on numbers that they know might not be the truth? What are they so afraid of?
I suddenly start to understand how conflicted WBs must feel. Would I ultimately give up my job for something I believe in? I'd like to think so. Or am I quitting too early if I choose to give up and not stay and fight? What a conundrum.
Then I get home to a response from the UoG that they "must insist on an English language proficiency test" with shades of visa requirements thrown in, And it makes me wonder: would I give up a free education (if I get it) to sustain my principles? I honestly feel offended on behalf of my entire country, my undergraduate university and even embarrassed for the British people handling admissions and crafting policies. Thanks to our colonial past, we drive on the left side, we learn Queen's English, take the GCE A and O Levels, and spell everything with "u" and pronounce the "h". Yet, the colonial mindset continues today: English must not be our first language, and therefore we need to prove we are capable to take an education in it. It doesn't seem to matter that my five-year undergraduate degree at an institution known for its rigour and ranked more than 50 places above the UoG, was conducted in English. If they had asked for a certified letter that the curriculum was delivered in English, that, I may have understood. But no, they must insist, and they tried to make it sound like a visa requirement (i.e., shifting responsibility). Which is ...odd, because if you read the requirements closely, the assessment is 1) up to the higher institution, and 2) I shouldn't need a visa for what's required with that programme.
What is up with the world?
Should I be happy that the internal fires still burn strongly for such issues? Perhaps I should consider myself silly to still be so affected by matters like this? Or can I just be sad that the world seems to have fallen short today?
I think I'll just go to bed. Maybe tomorrow will be a glass-half-full day.
Heard an update from the bossman about a decision the business leadership made -- one that sorely disappointed me and caused me to question whether the ethical integrity of the business is at stake. Are we really here to only support the business, so the business gets to decide everything and we just have to "grit our teeth and follow"? Shouldn't we be here as a form of check and balance as well? Did we really try hard enough to influence? Sure it's not something we can directly control, but isn't it an area of influence? Were all the stakeholders really a part of the discussion, or did the folks in the 'main region' drive this themselves? From the calls I've joined, it's clear that that region doesn't give a f*** about any region other than themselves. Why do they get to make the call globally? Don't they feel ashamed congratulating themselves on numbers that they know might not be the truth? What are they so afraid of?
I suddenly start to understand how conflicted WBs must feel. Would I ultimately give up my job for something I believe in? I'd like to think so. Or am I quitting too early if I choose to give up and not stay and fight? What a conundrum.
Then I get home to a response from the UoG that they "must insist on an English language proficiency test" with shades of visa requirements thrown in, And it makes me wonder: would I give up a free education (if I get it) to sustain my principles? I honestly feel offended on behalf of my entire country, my undergraduate university and even embarrassed for the British people handling admissions and crafting policies. Thanks to our colonial past, we drive on the left side, we learn Queen's English, take the GCE A and O Levels, and spell everything with "u" and pronounce the "h". Yet, the colonial mindset continues today: English must not be our first language, and therefore we need to prove we are capable to take an education in it. It doesn't seem to matter that my five-year undergraduate degree at an institution known for its rigour and ranked more than 50 places above the UoG, was conducted in English. If they had asked for a certified letter that the curriculum was delivered in English, that, I may have understood. But no, they must insist, and they tried to make it sound like a visa requirement (i.e., shifting responsibility). Which is ...odd, because if you read the requirements closely, the assessment is 1) up to the higher institution, and 2) I shouldn't need a visa for what's required with that programme.
What is up with the world?
Should I be happy that the internal fires still burn strongly for such issues? Perhaps I should consider myself silly to still be so affected by matters like this? Or can I just be sad that the world seems to have fallen short today?
I think I'll just go to bed. Maybe tomorrow will be a glass-half-full day.
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