Miethäuser Model in Education

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Last post we discussed Miehäuser model as a solution to extralegal property. Let’s take a small detour from the main line of though for a moment. Same concept can be applied in other domains, at least in education.

Extending the Model -  Schulehäuser Syndikat

The Syndikat model is quite generic in nature and can with modifications be applied to other domains. As proof point, here is how it could be used to increase earnings by acquiring new skills through education. Increased earnings mean better potential for the house associations of previous post to pay back its loans.

How can Syndikat model work here?

Lack of trust is a big issue in many informal settlements between people who do not have long history together.  Let’s consider an example. There is quite a lot of day jobs in these markets. An employee hires a daily worker and pays at the end of the day. Both parties have significant risks. If I hire someone, I do not know how if they have the right skills and the same goes other way also – how can I as day-labourer be sure I get paid after work?

This can be improved with training, obtained certificates from schools and reputation systems, but people in informal settlements may not have funds to pay upfront of the education.

The core of the idea is that an association is set up using the Miethäuser model to run a vocational school. A brand is created for the school. School hires teachers and sources additional online/offline educational materials. When students graduate, they are allowed to use the brand of the school in their personal marketing as a guarantee of their skills. The association maintains a market place where all graduates and skills are visible and customers can review and give feedback.

All work done during the school years is visible on the same market place as reference for skill. This means you start filling your digital resume while still studying. For the use of brand, a license is paid back to association. The association uses the incoming licensing money to widen the areas that people get education on locally. Finally, it reaches to nearby regions to set up similar schools there.

The association also collects information about the market and providers analysis reports to its current and former students on general salary and expected income levels. This way it creates a shared understanding what skills are in high demand and how in general needs are evolving.

This solves the trust issue as the market place contains customer feedback and verified information of completed education.

Last but not least. To what degree this model be fully digitalised? I’ll leave the final answer to the gentle reader. Here some points to consider.

The massive open online courses (MOOCs) are clearly similar in nature. What they do not have is customer feedback (from people who employ people who have completed courses) nor any license fee for the use of the brand. They do validate user identities as far as they can, but linking to a stronger digital identity would help in trust building as digital verification is subject to gaming.

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