Universities should be more than toll gates By Walid Dib | Posted and Updated: Sep 2, 2025 | 5 min read --- Key Points & Personal Reflection Many Middle Eastern university students fondly remember dorm living and campus life more than the actual classroom learning. A provocative blog post titled “Math is Erotic” notes that universities often function more as credentialing bodies than educational institutions. Walid Dib's experience at the German Jordanian University (GJU) exemplifies this: excellent grades were achieved mainly through rote memorization, not genuine understanding. The GJU operates like a conveyor belt, preparing students mainly for jobs abroad, especially in Germany. The Jordanian higher education system includes archaic requirements (like mandatory Military Science courses) and produces a high unemployment rate (21%) among graduates, much above the global average of 4.9%. Success for many graduates does not stem from deep learning but rather from passing through this “credentialing conveyor belt.” Disillusionment and Rediscovery of Learning Joy During a foreign exchange year in Germany, Walid witnessed a stark contrast: students passionate about their engineering subjects and learning deeply. Years later, Walid found joy in self-directed learning through platforms like Harvard’s CS50 YouTube lectures, Arduino projects, the Godot game engine, and self-initiated coding projects unrelated to monetary gain. This independent exploration led to mixed feelings: excitement about new knowledge but frustration over the overwhelming breadth and short retention. Despite these challenges, he embraces a philosophy where forgetting and shifting focus is natural; the joy is in continuously discovering new interests. Walid’s new goal is financial freedom to design his own learning curriculum for life. Broader Implications The article is a critique and reflection on the role of traditional universities—especially in the Arab world—as barriers rather than gateways to knowledge. It highlights the contrast between credentialing-focused education and genuine, passion-driven learning. It suggests that self-directed learning and lifelong curiosity may offer a more fulfilling educational experience. --- Additional Notes The post is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Related posts include thoughts on writing, game development in Godot, and startup salaries. --- Image: University Credential Toll Gate – illustrating the concept of universities as checkpoints for credentials rather than places of learning. --- This reflection encourages reconsidering how universities operate and advocates for educational systems that inspire passion and curiosity rather than mere credentialing.