TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION 49 



same thing applies generally to organized bodies, which are 

 deeply concerned in the education that is preparatory to the 

 calling that they represent. This idea has, I believe, only been 

 realized to a very small extent ; but in some of the newer 

 universities great importance is attached to the co-operation 

 in the administration of departments of applied science, of 

 Advisory Committees, consisting of men for the most part 

 actively engaged in the industry to which the applied science 

 is related. At least one case may be quoted where such an 

 Advisory Committee is composed mainly of representatives 

 directly delegated from the professional associations repre- 

 sentative of the whole industry concerned. The gain to the 

 university of such relationship is very great. Not only does it 

 bring with it a large amount of valuable advice to the service 

 of the university, but it breaks down the barriers which are 

 so apt to arise between academic and practical life, and ensures 

 that there shall be a vitalizing contact between the university 

 and the world outside. The extraordinarily rapid transforma- 

 tions which industries undergo at the present day, lead to the 

 danger of a teacher becoming out of touch with current 

 developments and new needs, if he is isolated within the 

 precincts of a university. His intercourse with industrial 

 leaders is greatly facilitated by the existence of such Advisory 

 Committees as I have referred to. The limits of the authority 

 of such Committees will, of course, be regulated by the uni- 

 versity, and care will be taken that their intervention does 

 not proceed beyond due limits. They should be, in academic 

 matters, as their name implies, rather advisory than executive. 

 The difficulty of securing suitable teachers of applied science 

 is no doubt very considerable. Whilst it is essential that such 

 a teacher should have a first-hand knowledge and experience 

 of the industry towards which his teaching is to be directed ; 

 and whilst he should keep in mind industrial needs and in- 

 dustrial demands, and maintain a sympathetic interest in the 



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