MARKETING EDUCATION
MARKETING
STUDENTS OF
TODAY: Teachers
Of The Future
By Thrity Engineer-Mbuthia
I
rarely write in the first person, but
I felt very strongly about this topic
and who knows, perhaps it is a
sign of new things.
Teaching or imparting knowledge has
been my passion for the longest of
times. Ever since I was 6 years old, I
remember chalk and board, teaching
teddy bears and dolls. And it always
gave me much joy.
So many years later after an 18
year stint in the corporate world in
different sales and marketing roles, I
find myself chalk in hand, imparting
knowledge to students in various
institutions across the city of Nairobi.
This is a great opportunity to share
my experiences having been within
industry and having learnt so much
from a practical perspective.
Having a great thirst for knowledge,
it is my assumption that my students
share my ideology. Making my class
sessions as practical as possible
has always been one of my aims.
Application of knowledge is more
important than just learning the
theory.
“Teaching both a professional course and an
undergraduate module makes me realize just
how different the courses are, even though there
are similarities in the content. The principles
are the same, the frameworks are the same; that
part does not change. The professional course
demands wide knowledge and application
and the degree course demands step by step
understanding and a lot of appreciation of
history and theory.”
66 MAL 12/16 ISSUE
Teaching both a professional course
and an undergraduate module makes
me realize just how different the
courses are, even though there are
similarities in the content.
The principles are the same, the
frameworks are the same; that part
does not change. The professional
course demands wide knowledge and
application and the degree course
demands step by step understanding
and a lot of appreciation of history
and theory.
As I write this article, I can’t help
but notice a trend I have seen within
the student body. Thinking back to
my own days as a student, I reflect,
but can’t find an answer to if it was
quite the same. The trend seems to
be along the lines of how fast can I
finish my course and put in the least
effort in the process.
Students today don’t read the
assigned core texts, and are not ready
to put in the work to research for
cutting edge articles. There is a very
laisser-faire attitude towards the class
room sessions, often times cutting
class with the flimsiest of excuses,
coming late to class and not even