Not involved in Higher Education I hope Colwyn? I have to say I went to University, I studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering, got my piece of paper.
Fortunately I did an apprenticeship first, so I learnt something before wasting a lot of time on a course that could have been done in two years rather than 4, where I was taught totally outdated technology, and had to suffer such subjects as "Scientific Philosophy" from a left wing lecturer who was keener on pushing his poitical views than us actually learning anything. (when he bothered to turn up!) It was a waste of time, outdated learning, things I have never used, and I only did it as I found that despite my proven skills other graduates wouldn't employ you in the "club" unless you had been to University! I learnt about 10% more than I did doing an HNC part time for two years! It is my absolute conviction that 50% of university places could be dropped with no detrimental effect. How many Political Science or Media Studies graduates can we employ ? Who needs an employee who has a degree in David Beckam? Shoule we perhaps offer "Perennial Stuident" as an official cpurse and maybe even a Masters?? -- not Oxon -- see I do know the system!
Strangely I have no objection to people becoming better educated, and University serves so many purposes not least a big "growing-up" as often first time away from home, managing finances etc. and developing the mind is good. However it is very expensive, and as such it should be something you earn not a right! Why shouldn't a talented History Scholar go on and take a degree and even a PHd, people can enrich our Society and it should be more than about "getting a job". (Whatever happened to the Articled Clerk route to becoming a Lawyer?) But
little Selwyn who just about made it through the dumbed down A levels and has an aptitude for mechanics going to university to do Political Sciences --- why???
We need the arts and educated people as a nation, we don't need millions of people with a useless piece of paper, or thousands of highly paid lecturers encouraging even more university places to create even more lecturing jobs!
One only has to look nearby at Germany, a Country that does not insist on so many University places as a percentage of it's population, but where they lead Europe in technology and manufacturing, where they work less hours and produce more, so how do they do that? 1960's methods -- apprenticeships, technical colleges, truly educated population, you pay attention in School in Germany -- or else!
If we as a nation want a major Industry of Education specialising in overseas students at high levels of income, that is different, a business like any other, but from what I see in the workplace, it isn't working, and it is to my regret that a few years ago I did reduce a totally inept young person to tears unintentionally when they referred to "at Uni .............." by my very brusque "What?? YOU went to University --- I suggest next time you pay attention"! Sorry if you are a CBF member and reading this
I'm paying for all this nonsense and I don't like it!