Times are hard for most universities. One argument for this is that there are too many institutions offering university courses in Sweden (see the Swedish debate). We are simply too few people to support the institutions. So it’s not surprising that the universities and polytechnics/university colleges are fighting to get students to apply to their courses.
The University College of Borås is now offering a 7,5 credit (full Swedish academic year is 60 credits) course in Game Theory & Poker. The purpose of the course is to increase the students fundamental understanding of game theory applied to poker. The course begins with an introduction to game theory and games with incomplete information (specifically poker). The focus of the course is on the mathematical side, psychological and cognitive aspects of the game are ignored.
OK, so I can understand how poker can be used to illustrate game theory, but to put the focus squarely on the gaming aspect does little for the understanding and development of game theory as a subject.
Online poker has become a big subject in Sweden. It is, strangely enough, often presented in the media as being exciting and profitable. Young people (read: university students) are attracted by the lure of the online lifestyle and easy money. By presenting the course in such a way the university college of Borås is contributing to the glamourisation of gambling – which most people should know tends only to make the house rich, not the players.
In addition to this, the course is an example of the how low can we go mentality the scramble for students. Naturally I sympathize with the universities need to increase the number of students but the way in which this is done is not irrelevant. Teaching poker is hardly the basis of useful skills in the job market or in life.
Can the teachers, department & university honestly say they have the best interests of the students in mind by creating and offering this course?