1992 Fredericton Encaenia
Graduation Address
Delivered by: Fenton, Edwin
Content
"Graduation: 'Just One Step in Lifelong Process of Education'" Daily Gleaner (29 May 1992). (UA Case 67, Box 2)
Graduation from university is just one step in a lifelong process of education, a renowned educator told the University of New Brunswick’s Encaenia yesterday.
"The function of a university is not to cram your head full of fact," Edwin Fenton told the graduates. "It’s to prepare you for a world in transition."
(Reporter’s remarks omitted)
Changed World
The world has changed greatly since he received his bachelor’s degree, Dr. Fenton said. When he was 22, there was no television and no interstate highway system in the United States and cars didn’t have signal lights.
But today’s graduates face a world that is changing even more rapidly.
"You are going to see chances on a much more dramatic scale in your lives," he told the graduates. "Most of you are going to have three or four or fives jobs in your lifetime. My colleagues in engineering tell me that half the knowledge an engineering graduate has on the day he graduates will be either obsolete or dead wrong within 10 years."
That’s why lifelong learning is vital, Dr. Fenton said.
Dr. Fenton urged universities to become more aware of continuing education for professionals. As well, he urged the graduates to be concerned with the education of others. For example, alumni of Princeton and Dartmouth living in the Boston area are serving as mentors for youngsters at inner-city schools.
As well, he urged the graduates to maintain their links with the University of New Brunswick.
University Support
"This is your university. You have partial ownership by virtue of having spent four years here. I urge you to join your alumni association. Suggest to the faculty ways you can continue to support the university."
Graduation from university is just one step in a lifelong process of education, a renowned educator told the University of New Brunswick’s Encaenia yesterday.
"The function of a university is not to cram your head full of fact," Edwin Fenton told the graduates. "It’s to prepare you for a world in transition."
(Reporter’s remarks omitted)
Changed World
The world has changed greatly since he received his bachelor’s degree, Dr. Fenton said. When he was 22, there was no television and no interstate highway system in the United States and cars didn’t have signal lights.
But today’s graduates face a world that is changing even more rapidly.
"You are going to see chances on a much more dramatic scale in your lives," he told the graduates. "Most of you are going to have three or four or fives jobs in your lifetime. My colleagues in engineering tell me that half the knowledge an engineering graduate has on the day he graduates will be either obsolete or dead wrong within 10 years."
That’s why lifelong learning is vital, Dr. Fenton said.
Dr. Fenton urged universities to become more aware of continuing education for professionals. As well, he urged the graduates to be concerned with the education of others. For example, alumni of Princeton and Dartmouth living in the Boston area are serving as mentors for youngsters at inner-city schools.
As well, he urged the graduates to maintain their links with the University of New Brunswick.
University Support
"This is your university. You have partial ownership by virtue of having spent four years here. I urge you to join your alumni association. Suggest to the faculty ways you can continue to support the university."
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