A ticket

The so-called crisis in the university is, in Mr. Braybrooke's view, partly due to this diploma ticket view of the place. One remedy is for students to change that state where all they look for is marks and that piece of parchment. Ceasing from narrowing one's vision in that way will enable one to gain a broader and deeper view of the university. The student will wake up to all that is going on here, and realise that the more he participates in both study and leisure activities, the greater will be the measure he achieves of the fullness of the university.

What does this mean as far as the subjects studied are concerned? The first thing a newcomer here will notice is that he is not, as it were, held by the hand and taught as at school. He sees less of the staff than at secondary school. He is exacted to do much more on his own initiative. Why is this?