I’ve taught lots of courses at Queen’s University Belfast in the field of Personal Development. These workshops have ranged from Memory Improvement to Body Language, from Emotional Intelligence to Influencing Skills. They were all very well attended. But at a highly conservative estimate, the ratio of females to males in each class was about 5:2.

Last year I had four more scheduled: Decision Making, Thinking Skills, and Personal Power were the first three. A great number of students signed up for each one. I had about 20 per class. But the fourth one? It was on Masculinity. And the interest rate? Zero. Well, that’s not exactly true. Two brave guys signed up for it, but this wasn’t enough to allow the class to go ahead.

Now I know what you’re thinking. ‘Masculinity’ sounds more like a medical procedure than a course you might be interested in attending.

Here’s how I pitched it in the university brochure.

It’s a one day workshop. And a snip at £23. So why no interest? Well, that’s not entirely true either. A journalist showed some interest.

She said she would love to sit in as an observer.

I told her we first needed something to observe.

If you want more on this theme, read my blogs Why Are Men Such Fat, Stupid Wasters? #1 & #2

As a training consultant and business owner, I’m used to making the link between customers and learners. For me, they are one and the same. When I say that I treat the learners in our workshops as ‘customers’, I am stating the facts. This is not to denigrate; it is to describe.

I suppose it counts as controversial in some circles, but I’m glad about the new link between universities and business, and the new perspective of a university as a business. Why?

For one thing, it allows professional training organisations like Sensei to apply our skills within the academic realm. It’s good to mix it up a little. At present we are one of the training providers for The Queen’s University of Belfast in Lifelong Learning and Continuing Professional Development within the School of Education. So I’m biased, I’ll admit it.

But here are two more good reasons.

Number one – it makes academics think about the real world. You know, the one that the poor students have to go out into and make a living in, once the learning is complete. It’s OK for Philosophy departments to teach theories that are hundreds of years old, but when it’s the Business or IT departments, then there’s trouble ahead.

Number two – it makes academics think about the quality and standard of their teaching. Right now, did you know that university lecturers don’t have to take any qualifications in adult education? The result – an extremely mixed bag of teaching standards. But then, most lecturers are more interested in research than teaching anyway. Students are such a nuisance…

Not anymore. Money talks. Deficient university = broke university.

That’s one equation I like.