Qualifications or experience: what’s more important?

Whose side are you on?

With the rise of university placements comes the rise of qualifications, and it soon started to seem like the only way to get your foot in the door was by having a string of letters after your name.

But this wasn’t always the case, and with the rising cost of education making some think twice about pursuing higher learning, plus grumblings from some quarters that university graduates aren’t prepared for the workplace is it time that work experience becomes the preferred attribute for employers, or do qualifications still highlight the best candidate?

We spoke with two experts to discover the advantages of each. But don’t be shy, we want to hear your opinions too. Is experience the only way to measure a candidate or should qualifications be a fast-track to career progression?

Qualifications are more important

Qualifications reveal much more about a person than just their academic prowess.

“Firstly, I would like to say that a degree is not just about getting a job/career. The benefits affect all parts of life; intellectual, social, sporting, personal, artistic, ethical, and so much more.

Recruiters often write job advertisements that specify that a degree is needed for the job, thus the market decides on this point, and it values degrees. Additionally, there are more jobs today than there were 50 years ago that involve working with your brain and fewer jobs involving manual skills.

A degree is a start in working life, after all. Then experience, to give it its due place, will increasingly provide opportunities for further development of the person.

Let us compare like with like, both of equal intelligence. Let me give due credit to experience: it does not switch intelligence off (the way a few academics talk, one might think that they suppose the opposite).

However, education changes you. Given the same elapsed time, a course of education will bring a greater depth of understanding than experience can provide.

Thus experience may teach you that ‘doing it that way does not work’, but education gives you the theoretical knowledge and analytical skill to show why it does not work. Education develops your speed of learning and ability to learn at depth.

Thus the experienced learn new ideas processes or technologies, but the educated learn them faster and more deeply.

The graduates who are best at delivering high graduate value come from ‘sandwich’ courses with a year in industry. They have a great combination of theory and rigour, with a strong understanding of application of knowledge.

The courses I work on educate students for two years, place them in industry for a year and bring them back to complete a final year of education. They are outstanding. They gain jobs very easily and prove themselves quickly. The majority have very enviable careers”.

Work experience is more important

“Nowadays everyone seems to have a or wants to have a degree, and there is still a tendency to jump straight into starting one as soon as possible. But is it the right way to go?

Is a 21-year-old with 3 years solid experience who has completed some relevant industry qualifications during this time a more, or less, valuable resource that a newly qualified university graduate who has barely stepped foot in an office environment before?

Putting yourself in that position, do you think you would be stronger placed having spent 3 years starting a career and having earned at least MK300entry level positions?

,000 during that time, or having learnt about a subject with limited practical experience and potentially built up large debts? If it’s the former, do employers need to re-evaluate who they are taking on in their 

A degree qualification used to be a major deciding factor in who got the job, but I think as more and more people have gained degrees, especially over recent years, employers have become less impressed on the whole, and focused more on experience.

If you asked most employers if they would select a raw graduate with 3 years in education but no tangible experience, or a college leaver with 3 years relevant experience, I would expect the vast majority would favour the latter.

Most job specs I receive stating reference to any required educational and qualifications are usually mentioned at being ‘ideal’ or ‘beneficial’ rather than essential.

When reviewing CVs, both personally and alongside employers, experience is reviewed before education in most cases, apart from entry/junior level positions.

A 3-year study-only degree doesn’t really work, so apprenticeships are starting to become much more commonplace within this sector, along with other workplace learnings.

Obviously this differs in some vocations where a certain level of education is required to progress beyond a certain point, i.e. law, accountancy, engineering etc.

The ideal is a good combination of both theoretical knowledge and practical understanding, and I believe this is better. However, from what I see on a day to day basis, the comfort blanket of seeing an individual with the exact match of experience to a vacancy swings an employer in most circumstances”.

What do you think is more important, experience or qualifications?

TEACHING THE BABY HOW TO CRAW

Teaching baby to crawl is a frequent wish of many parents all over the world. Although many still debate whether a baby should really crawl, many parents know that this activity is one of the major milestones infants should master. It's a key period when your baby becomes stronger, learn the surroundings, improve visual skills and improve physical abilities.

It is also a natural skill most babies automatically master. But many times it just doesn't happen - for a number of really good reasons.

Like babies with poor head control often don't like lying on their stomachs. And good head control is one of the key skills a child must have to learn to crawl. So, if head control is mastered later ask than normal, following development may also be a bit slower than the norm.

Many parents start by worrying about the age when their baby should start to crawl.

That's also when parents start enquiring about teaching baby to crawl. What they must do. How to do it. And what not to do.

There are a few activities, toys or tips parents can easily use for teaching baby to crawl. And to do it correctly. But generally, very little information is about babies not crawling.

There are a few proven techniques professionals use to encourage babies to crawl. In essence most of these techniques encourage your child to be more tolerable to lying on her tummy.

Colorful toys and playthings are great for encouraging baby to crawl

But there is one technique that I found to work very well, is safe to try and can be done by all parents.

Its called the..

The 5P Baby Crawling System

It's a logical 5 Step System to help baby crawl in no time. Let's look at the 5P steps individually…

Here i come Mama!!

P - Put on the carpet(mat). The very first thing any baby must master before there's any hope of learning to crawl… is being comfortable in the tummy lying position. You'll get great results doing this if you talk to and play with your baby when she's on the carpet or mat.

P - Put together a roller. Roll an ordinary bathroom towel into a "sausage". Of course, you can also buy any other type of roller. They're soft cylindrical shaped toys... preferably solid. You do get inflatable ones, but solid ones normally last much longer and can also be used to get teach your child to sit and walk.

P - Position the elbows. This step requires you to do something. Gently hold your baby by the elbows and draw them towards him/her body. It will almost seem as if your child wants to lie on her elbows. Continue to provide support.

One of the very popular toys for encouraging crawling is this crawl mirror

P - Position on roller. Gently position the "sausage" under your baby's upper body… arms hanging over the front of the "sausage". The towel "sausage" supports the upper body - NOT her stomach - with her elbows just touching the carpet. It should slightly raise her upper body thereby allowing him/her to discover the surroundings. Make sure her elbows touch the carpet - they must not be hanging in the air.

P - Perform in front. This is the most important step. Get down on the floor directly in front of your child and face him/her. Now, let your baby look at your face while you talk to, amuse and encourage him/her. Many parents also found this crawl mirror a great help.

The idea is to encourage your child to endure longer sessions on her tummy. Your baby must focus on you and will then spontaneously develop a sense of using both elbows and legs for support. If it's done right, you'll soon see her supporting herself on both knees and straight arms... ready to crawl.

The power of this 5P System lies in raising your baby's upper body to look at her surroundings... all while lying down.

i can do it Dad

 

It also only takes a few minutes daily to start seeing results. Obviously, if you can fit in more than one session per day, results come faster

Malawi Defence Force, US Army Launch MEDREACH

The Malawi Defence Force in conjunction with the US Army Africa command launched a joint medical assistance exercise aimed at establishing, developing military relations and hastening capacity building. The launch took place at the Kamuzu Barracks in the capital city in front of the Commander of the Malawi Defence Force General Marko Chiziko.

US Army medical team in Dental Surgery 

The exercise, called MEDREACH 11 attracted 250 military medical personnel from the two countries. Speaking at the launch General Marko Chiziko Commander of the Malawi Defence Force said the exercise benefited civilians around Mtenthela,Nathenje and Kawale health centres as the soldiers worked in those centres. Chiziko also said the medical military personnel  conducted about 300 eye operations to remove cataracts in soldiers and civilians, and he called the mission success and completed it with high turnouts and response from the public.

Among other duties, they carried out dental medications, general medical tests..including BP, Malaria and other prevailing diseases, and they also distributed free “Super Mosquito Nets” which lasts for five years with medication.

Joint Forces in provision of Medical services(MDF & US Army)

Also in attendance at the launch and closing ceremony was US embassy’s charge’d’ affairs Mr Craig Anderson who appreciated the strong ties which exists between the two countries. The US army’s military medical personnel were in the country for two weeks and they are expecting to leave on Saturday the 14^th of May 2011.

Man United fans scared of Barcelona

Will they celebrate at Wembley?

A cross interview in Kawale township and around town many supporters fears that Barcelona will retain the UEFA Champions League cup..will this happen at a coin toast?

"Messi ndi poison" one Man Utd fan said while showing a sad face upon asked what they think of Messi and his skills.

lets wait and see who will be crowned the king of European football..

Thousands of pilgrims pray before Blessed John Paul's new tomb

Cardinal Stanislaw prays at the new tomb of late Pope John Paul II

Before a slab of gleaming white marble inscribed "Beatus Johannes Paulus PP. II," thousands of pilgrims made the sign of the cross, snapped a picture and said a quick prayer.

Some left photographs or letters in a basket in front of Blessed Pope John Paul II's new tomb in the Chapel of St. Sebastian in St. Peter's Basilica. A few also left flowers and a monetary contribution to support the process of declaring him a saint.

After hundreds of thousands of people filed past Blessed John Paul's mortal remains May 1, the day of his beatification, and May 2 after a Mass of thanksgiving, a small ceremony was held to place the remains -- still in their original triple-casket -- under the altar and seal it with the white marble slab.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said the ceremony began May 2 at 7:15 p.m., after St. Peter's Basilica had been closed to the public. Before the marble slab was put in place, nine cardinals, several bishops and the priests who staff the basilica chanted "Blessed John Paul" in Latin. They recited the approved Mass prayer for his Oct. 22 feast day and the casket was censed.

Among those present were Polish Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow, the late pope's longtime personal secretary, and the Polish nuns who cared for the papal household. They returned to St. Peter's May 3 for an early morning Mass in the chapel.

Vatican officials had said more than 250,000 people visited Blessed John Paul's mortal remains on the day of his beatification.

Pope Benedict XVI and the cardinals who concelebrated the beatification Mass were the first to kneel and pray at the foot of the closed wooden casket; many kissed and caressed the recently cleaned and polished wood.

Once the dignitaries left, a thick velvet rope was put around the casket and the public was allowed to stream up the right side and down the left side of St. Peter's Basilica. The pilgrim path was marked by waist-high wooden barricades set back several feet from the casket.

Ushers kept the crowds moving swiftly, leaving many with little time to linger. Small groups of people were allowed to kneel briefly in prayer far from the barricades.

Moving the crowds so quickly meant many pilgrims who were in the square after the beatification had to wait only 30 minutes to get in to see the casket.

Sister Milena, a member of the Sisters of St. Elizabeth, said she waited in line for only half an hour right after the beatification Mass.

The 24-year-old nun from Wroclaw, Poland, said it felt "very special, very nice" to be able to pray in front of his casket. She said she prayed for a woman who just joined her religious order.

A man from Scotland said he got inside the basilica around 1 a.m., and called the moment "grace-filled."

Sister Christina, a member of the Servants of Mary from southern Cameroon, said she felt "real joy" and could sense the late pope's presence.

Being by the casket, it felt "like he had never left us," she said.

The Tuscani family from Turin, Italy, said "it was a moving experience" to have seen his casket.

However, the ushers moved them past so quickly they didn't have time to pray, "just time to make the sign of the cross, which was more than enough," Paola Tuscani said.

Father Enda Naughton, 78, who works at the Knock Shrine, Ireland's national Marian shrine, said he had celebrated Mass with the late pope twice in his private chapel when he was alive.

He said seeing his casket "was lovely" and that his whole visit had been touched by the blessed.

He said when planning the trip last month, all of the hotels were full. He prayed to Pope John Paul and asked him that "if he wanted me to come," the Polish pope would have to "do something" and then 10 minutes later, he got an email from one hotel saying there had been a cancellation.

He said he was lucky to get into the basilica because "there was a queue miles long, snaking around. It would have taken hours."

But he was accompanying a woman with a disability and they were given permission to go to the front of the line to see the casket, he said.

The casket was set on a raised platform in front of the main altar on the basilica's main level. It was surrounded by yellow and white roses and flanked by four Swiss Guards.

Placed on top of the casket was of the "one of the most precious Gospels in the Vatican Library's holdings," the illuminated Lorsch Gospels from the medieval era, the Vatican said.

BECKHAM WANTS TO BE IN ENGLAND SHIRT AGAIN AT OLYMPIC GAMES IN JULY

Beckham: that would be incredible

Former England captain David Beckham is desperate to be involved in the Great Britain football team at next year's London Olympics - even if that means being restricted to a backroom role.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder, who made his name at Manchester United, has not been involved in an England squad since October 2009, with Italian manager Fabio Capello all but calling time on his international career. Beckham will be 37 by the time the Games start on July 25 but, having played a role in bringing the Olympics to his home city he is especially keen to be involved in 2012.

I'd love to be a player in it, of course, but just to be part of that team would be pretty incredible.

 

 

David Beckham on being part of the Great British Olympic team

David: its an honor to be in these colors

"So far I've heard I'm going to be managing, coaching, playing," he said on Wednesday. "We'll see but I would like to be part of it in some way. I'd love to be a player in it, of course, but just to be part of that team would be pretty incredible because for a football team to go into the Olympics in England is a huge thing."

However, while the English Football Association remains supportive of fielding a Great Britain team at the Games, governing bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - the other constituent nations of the United Kingdom -- remain deeply sceptical.

Many officials and supporters fear the creation of a combined Great Britain team, even for the purposes of an Olympic Games, could be the start of a slippery slope that would ultimately lead to their extinction as separate international football sides.

Champions League Updates..

The Champions League Final

Welcome to the Champions League Final  where i will be talking record-breaking stadiums, teams, managers, players and will also compare this season’s stats with the all-time Champions League Guinness World Records to see how they match up.

On Saturday 22nd May at the Santiago Bernabeu home of Real Madrid in Spain the 18th Champions League Final (55th European Cup Final) is taking place. This is the fourth final at the Bernabeu just one short of the record held by Wembley Stadium, London and Heysel Stadium, Brussels for the most times to host the European Cup/Champions League Final. In this season’s match up Bayern Munich take on Inter Milan with both clubs chasing an unprecedented treble (they have already won their respective domestic league and cup).


Bayern Munich have the edge over Inter historically, they have won the trophy 4 times including three consecutive victories in the 1970s compared to Inter’s 2 triumphs (back-to-back in the 1960s). It is their hosts Real Madrid though who put them in the shade with the most European Cup victories a whopping 9, they had won the first five tournaments from 1956 to 1960 to record the most consecutive wins of the European Cup. It is no surprise then that Spanish clubs have recorded 12 European Cup/Champions League victories. Italian clubs however have won 11 so an Inter victory would equal the record for the most European Cup/Champions League titles won by a country.



The teams themselves also hold records in Europe. Last season Bayern Munich trounced Sporting Lisbon 12-1 on aggregate in the second phase. The 11-goal margin is the highest margin of victory in a Champions League knockout tie. The second leg victory (which Bayern are celebrating below) was 7-1 which equalled the record for highest margin of victory in a single knockout match, first set by Manchester United vs. Roma in the 2007/08 season.


Inter Milan share the record for the most wins of the UEFA Cup, they won it three times in the 1990s under three different managers to equal the record first set by Juventus in 1993. In 2001 they were joined by Premier League club Liverpool.


Both managers have won the tournament previously, Louis van Gaal won it with Ajax in 1995 while Jose Mourinho won it at Porto in 2004. That means the winner will equal the record for the manager with the most Champions League victories with different clubs. Ottmar Hitzfeld (Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich) and Ernst Happel (Feyenoord and Hamburg) currently share this record. The record for the most European Cups/Champions Leagues won by a manager is three, Bob Paisley completed his personal treble with Liverpool in 1977, 1978 and 1981.


Finally let’s see how this year’s cream of European football compare historically as we match up this season’s heroes with some of the all-time Guinness World Records in the Champions League.

Most goals in a Champions League season (individual)
2002/03: 12 goals - Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Netherlands)
2009/10: 8 goals - Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Most goals scored in a Champions League season (team)
2000: 45 goals - Barcelona
2009/10: 21 goals – Arsenal, Manchester United, Bayern Munich

Highest aggregate score in a Champions League match
2003/04: 11 goals - Monaco vs Deportivo La Coruña 8-3
2009/10: 7 goals – Four different games in the group stages

Highest margin of victory in a Champions Leage match

2007/08: 8 goals – Liverpool vs Besiktas 8-0
2009/10: 5 goals – Marseille vs FC Zurich 6-1 and Arsenal vs Porto 5-0


Most consecutive clean sheets in the Champions League
2005/06: 10 matches – Arsenal
2009/10: 4 matches - Bordeaux

Fastest Champions League goal
2006/07: 10 seconds - Roy Makaay
2009/10: 2 minutes – five players

Longest unbeaten run in the Champions League
2007-2009: 25 games - Manchester United
2009/10: 8 games – Bordeaux

so far it looks Barcelona are the only team making history, unbeaten runs, most goals scored by a team, lets wait until the final whistle of UEFA Champions League and enjoy Heinkein Adverts because thats what makes the show entertain most!!!