A Shining Example: The Dyson Institute

The goal of these blogs is to have a conversation about the flaws in our education system, propose solutions to these flaws, and also find ways to overcome these problems right now. Change takes time, and I want students to be able to navigate around the issues right now. Yet, sometimes change happens before our eyes and it is amazing! No, I’m not talking hypothetical change. I’m just getting to the point of this intro with dramatic flair…

A lot of times, to talk about education, I need to shine a light on what things could be like, or—in my opinion—what they should be like. Then I work backward to help us see where the flaws are right now. Today, though, I get to show you what things should be like, thanks to my favorite designer and inventor, Sir James Dyson. 

Welcome to The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, where all my dreams about what the college experience should be have come to life. Do you hear the music in the air? The doves flying? The bright light shining through the window onto your computer screen? Well, that’s how this makes me feel at least. 

The Dyson Institute Details

1. It’s free! Actually, it’s even better than free. Students get paid a stipend each year.
2. That’s because students work three days a week at the actual Dyson headquarters alongside their expert engineers doing real work, applying what they are learning to real situations. I’m just going to say the word “real” one more time because it’s that important to me. 
3. No electives. Period. Next! (related post: Electives Just Don’t Cut It)
4. The curriculum is so simple and perfect it makes my head spin. Even if it wasn’t free, why haven’t we been doing this everywhere? Instead of Calc I, Calc II, Calc III, etc. students take Engineering Mathematics and Systems Modeling in their first year, and Engineering Mathematics and Technical Computing in their second year. I mean, we’re here to be engineers, not mathematicians! Again, this curriculum is rooted in reality with application.
5. Professional development is part of the deal from day 1. You leave with four years of hands on experience, and guidance into the professional market. The path is clear and it’s explained and part of the educational experience from the beginning. 
6. They’re combining a degree program with an apprenticeship program. It satisfies the promise, and goal, that if you come here to be an engineer, you will leave here as one.

The Search Continues

There are a lot of amazing things this school is offering, and I encourage you all to go to the website and check it out. As for a college website, it’s super simple and won’t take you longer than ten or fifteen minutes to read through everything.

For more of Sir James Dyson, I recommend his interview on The Tim Ferriss Show, Episode #530. Truly great interview and story. 

Now for your part. Do you know of any other schools like this? I’d love to check them out as well. Doesn’t have to be engineering-focused, but has a focus on this apprenticeship style learning; hands-on and zero of the fluff. 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and other schools you’ve found!