When we’re talking about the learning experience at university, you might’ve come across phrases like “taught by expert faculty” and “hands-on learning experiences” pretty often.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, given that a big part of how we learn is how we’re taught and how we get to put that knowledge into practice.
But just how important is one over the other?
Let’s discuss.
Sure, knowing the theory is important and all, but how easily can you put it into practice? Source: AFP
Theory vs practice: What they are, how they’re different, and why they’re equally important
The Cambridge Dictionary defines theory as “a formal statement of the rules on which a subject of study is based or of ideas that are suggested to explain a fact or event or, more generally, an opinion or explanation,” while practice is “action rather than thought or ideas.”
Simply put, in the wise words of the late American professional baseball catcher, Yogi Berra, “In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice — in practice, there is.”
Berra’s words are true, and it’s something that many employers have noticed.
More than a decade ago, employers would reject otherwise qualified candidates in terms of skills or experience simply because they did not have a university degree. Now, international multinational corporations have dropped that requirement, and it’s up to degree-holders to show that they can effortlessly and efficiently put the theories they’ve learned into practice.
“As skills-based hiring becomes more widespread, we’re seeing a more level playing field emerge, where talented individuals from all backgrounds can highlight their abilities, pivot into new industries, and pursue their aspirations,” says Ed Huang, co-founder and executive director of Resume Genius, in an interview with Forbes. “It’s an exciting development that’s redefining what it means to be a successful candidate.”
Some jobs will show you why the theory vs practice argument is still relevant today. Source: AFP
Case study: The importance of putting your theory into practice…and having theory to your practice
Take finance graduate Deric Yee, for example.
Upon realising that crunching numbers wasn’t his thing, Yee pivoted his career and took up coding. He eventually ended up starting his own boot camp to train others in gaining coding experience.
When hiring some extra hands to help with this new venture, Yee realised a glaring problem in the industry: the junior developers he was meeting with – those with the relevant degrees – were struggling with real-world problem-solving.
“They could recite theories, but when it came to debugging complex issues or working on scalable applications, they were lost,” says Yee.
It was hard to understand. After all, how was it that he, someone who didn’t take the traditional university route for tech, ended up being better prepared for real-world software development than actual graduates?
Yee’s conclusion is this: the current system wasn’t broken because students weren’t capable — it was broken because it didn’t prepare them the right way, like giving them a chance to put their learnings into practice.
Yee’s right by all accounts, but there’s one crucial bit you shouldn’t ignore: you can make theories and not put them into practice, but you can’t practice well without having a theory.
The APAC universities that balance theory and practice perfectly
Theory vs practice — both have their benefits, and together, they take your education up a few notches. Source: AFP
In a degree related to someone’s educational growth
One of the best examples to show you why it isn’t theory vs practice, and instead should always be theory and practice, is through the University of Notre Dame Australia’s Bachelor of Primary Education degree.
Due to the nature of the work, it makes sense that this programme combines a comprehensive theoretical curriculum with a compulsory 30 weeks of school-based practicum placements and internship programmes – much more than at other universities.
This not only allows students to gain real professional experience during their studies, but it’s also a great way to make valuable contacts with potential employers.
“Notre Dame has allowed me to open my eyes and my mind, to engage with knowledge and learn the skills to succeed, and to immerse myself in the workplace so I feel prepared when I step out on my own,” says student Jeremy Hockings. “It’s a big responsibility [to teach children], but I know I’ll be ready.”
The field of traditional Chinese medicine might see a lot of arguments about theory vs practice, where many sceptics feel like neither really checks out. Source: AFP
In a degree related to bettering healthcare
Similarly, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU) offers a Bachelor of Chinese Medicine that brings the best of theory and practicals together.
Here, students aren’t just sitting and listening to lectures on Chinese Medicine Foundational Theories or Ancient Chinese Literature studies, they’re also required to go for extensive on-site hands-on clinical training to apply the theories in clinical settings – an aspect that students like Tng Kian Heng very much appreciate.
“I get to listen to patients, conduct diagnoses, and develop treatment plans based on their individual needs,” says Tng. “I strongly believe that the clinical internship is an indispensable component in preparing us for the realities of the Chinese Medicine industry.”
Veterinary science is a field where you really don’t want to put the theory vs practice argument to the test. Source: AFP
In a degree related to helping animals and wildlife
Over at the City University of Hong Kong’s Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, students in the six-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) programme have it hammered down that mastering theory is necessary before you tackle practice.
Here, the first two years of your studies focus on developing your knowledge and understanding to embark on the para-clinical and clinical curriculum taught in the later years. It’s during this time that you build the confidence and competences required for the job – and for the rest of the programme.
While tackling the rest of the necessary theory in your remaining years, you’ll undergo the 26-week Pre-clinical and Clinical Extra-Mural Studies in a variety of real-world settings, including clinical practices as well as abattoirs, laboratories, or government veterinary services, and students are also required to go on a 26-week Clinical Rotations, where you’ll apply and practise the skills you’ve learned under the apply and practise their skills.
To top it off, some curriculum components may require you to spend time at facilities outside of Hong Kong, including, for example, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York State, Australia, and Mainland China.
A lot of the argument about theory vs practice is that in theory it works, but in practice, much of theory can be contested. Source: AFP
In a degree related to helping the natural environment
Zooming out to the broader environment, New Zealand’s University of Canterbury offers a Bachelor of Environmental Science that starts with introductory courses before you dive into the deep end of things.
In the four-year-long programme, expect plenty of lab and field-based learning, and in your third year, 400 hours of work experience. Beyond giving you a chance to use what you have learned in the real world, it’s also a chance to build your network and figure out what your future career in the industry would look like.
For student Ashley Beaton, that, along with the university’s surroundings, is what makes this programme all the more worthwhile.
“Facilities are also a big thing to me as I want to be able to learn in an environment where there are no boundaries, being in Canterbury means there is a large array of landscapes to work in,” says Beaton.
“It is all great to read something out of a book, but being able to see it happening in the real world motivates you in a different way,” Beaton continues. “Knowing that what you are learning can be applied when you leave is also encouraging; you know that everything they teach you really has a purpose or a reason behind it.”
There’s no better place to take the “theory vs practice” argument than in the field of engineering. Source: AFP
In a degree related to engineering
In Japan’s University of Tokyo, the Department of Engineering’s pedagogy emphasises learning through lectures and exercises – their equivalent of practicals.
One of these exercises includes being organised into groups to design and build an original Stirling engine – an external combustion engine that uses external heat sources – in the span of two weeks. It’s a renowned exercise within the department, drawing the active participation of faculty members and teaching assistants who provide invaluable advice and support.
Another fun way that the department engages students to put theory to practice is the Mechatronics Exercise.
Here, students team up once more to conceive, design, and construct mechatronic toys entirely of their own idea. In ten sessions, they’ll expand their skills from the Stirling Exercise to include working with 3D printers, laser cutters for woodworking and plastics, and manual assembly, among others.
Aside from showing their results via a video presentation and an on-site demonstration, the department also invites guests from prominent Japanese manufacturing companies to join in on the showcase to witness the creations of the students themselves.
While you think practice wins in the “theory vs practice” fight when we’re talking about honing your skills in the creative arts, we’re here to tell you that you need to strike a balance of both to create something beautiful. Source: AFP
In degrees related to the creative arts
No better creative arts university balances in-depth theory with intensive practice than the Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts).
In its School of Music, students kickstart their studies with theory classes in Harmony and Analysis and follow it with plenty of studio performance work that follows soon after; in the School of Visual Arts, the curriculum is shaken up by a studio-centric education and many presentation- and critique-centred lessons – blending not just the theories used behind the world but exploring how it was applied practically too.
This is common across all of K-Arts’ other schools, but ultimately, here is where you can develop both artistic and academic capability without the compromise of one for the other.
