When the certificate becomes more valuable than knowledge
What if two young men apply for the same job: the first graduated from a prestigious global university, while the second acquired the same skills from top digital platforms, apprenticed under a select group of experts, utilized the latest artificial intelligence tools, and completed practical projects that demonstrated his competence. Which of them would receive priority? If knowledge alone were the criterion for selection, there might be little difference between them. However, reality often favors the first candidate, because the degree he holds conveys much about him before he even speaks.
For many years, the university was almost the sole gateway to knowledge, and the degree served as proof of knowledge acquisition, since the path to it ran exclusively through educational institutions. Today, the landscape has changed dramatically. The best lectures are available with a single click, the most powerful explanatory tools are provided by artificial intelligence, and countless books, courses, and experiences are accessible to anyone with an internet connection.
Consequently, the degree has increasingly become a social signal that condenses a complete mental image of its holder. It may reflect the prestige of the institution where he studied, the quality of the academic environment he experienced, the professional network he joined, and the impression that precedes his name among decision-makers. Thus, the labor market often pays for the trust conferred by certain educational brands, which resemble commercial trademarks in many respects.
As knowledge becomes more widely available, the value added by universities to students—through experiences, relationships, opportunities, and growth-supportive environments—becomes even more critical. These include networking, affiliation with an influential alumni community, practical experiences, direct interaction with exceptional minds, and the identity that educational institutions impart to their students.
However, this transformation also carries a challenge that should not be ignored. If the value of the degree surpasses the value of knowledge itself, society may begin to reward names rather than competence. Some individuals may gain greater opportunities simply because they bear a particular institutional brand, not because they possess superior ability to deliver results. In other words, status could replace competence, and the educational credential could become an end in itself, rather than a genuine reflection of knowledge and capability.
Shimaa Nabil Al-Mulla
