By Mel Mouat
Advanced Education Minister Dave Hancock dropped in on a University of Calgary lecture this week.
Hancock made his surprise visit to Communications and Culture 201 Wed., Oct. 12. The class is taught by Communications and Culture Dean Dr. Kathleen Scherf.
The focus of the lecture was Coordinated Management of Meaning, a theory involving the rules humans use to interpret meaning. The theory states six levels of communication form a hierarchy of meaning which governs the way humans interact with each other.
The purpose of Hancock’s visit was ostensibly to demonstrate and discuss the complex relationship between the government and their citizens, as dictated by CMM. He discussed this relationship in terms of the $25 million in increased funding the government recently announced for advanced education, and also in terms of the educational reform survey the provincial government is currently conducting. Hancock reviewed the six levels of CMM and then went on to voice his opinions about the need for higher education reform, saying Albertans need to invest in their educational infrastructure if they wish to continue competing in the global economy.
“Every Albertan should value their education,” said Hancock.
The lecture was well received, however there was some curiosity as to why Hancock was lecturing on CMM, a subject he admitted he was not entirely at home with.
“It was pretty much opportunistic,” said a student in the class, who felt Hancock’s surprise visit was really just an opportunity to parade the new government education budget, and was not entirely relevant to the class itself.
On the contrary, Scherf argued Hancock’s visit had nothing to do with the new budget.
“I don’t think [the students] need to be concerned, he got all the press he needed.” Scherf said, adding she asked the Minister to lecture at her class because he is a very personable man and clearly feels very passionate about higher education.