Universities should not provide so much theoretical knowledge

IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.

Some people think that universities should not provide so much theoretical knowledge but give more practical training throughout their courses.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Sample Answer :
It goes without saying that theoretical knowledge goes hand in hand with practical knowledge. That is to say that one is complement of another. Accordingly, we have to foster students’ learning and integration of theoretical knowledge in practice during university studies. For that we need to pay more attention in practical knowledge in the theoretical part of the curriculum.

To start with, university’s key objective is to teach how to extract knowledge and how to produce new knowledge. One and only tool for this is theoretical knowledge. Because theory answers the question of why. Theory unfolds us why a technique works while another fail. It can lead a student to a deeper understanding of a concept through seeing it in the context of greater whole and understanding the why behind it. In this way, theory prepares students to set a direction for the future education and they are able to produce new knowledge.

On the other hand, practical training helps students to obtain the particular technique that become the tools of their daily business. It is much related to day to day trade. Indeed, there are some things that can be only learned through doing and experiencing. Practical training can lead students to a clear understanding of a concept through the act of doing and experiencing.

However, both theoretical knowledge and practical training are crucial for students. They will not survive unless they can bring concrete result and to do that they need practical knowledge. Whereas, practical training helps students how to solve a particular problem, theoretical knowledge helps them apply what they learned solving one problem to different problems.

At this juncture I want to conclude by saying that knowledge has worthless if there is no use of it. The significance of practical training is no less than theoretical knowledge. The primary goal of education should be to prepare students how to produce knowledge and how to use it further. So we should pay emphasize on practical training to support theoretical studies in tertiary level, as the practical training can encourage students’ learning and linking theory with practice.