Latest university application figures show 9.7% rise

[EternalOptimist]

Have to say, whilst I'm in agreement with you on the science and engineering courses I'd also be keen to ensure that there was a massive uptick in vocational courses - which the prospective employers would pay for.

yeah
they used to be called apprenticeships a long time ago. Is that what you have in mind ?

[mrdonuts]

Physics....and for my pains I also have a masters.

So I may be just a tad biased, but I would strip a lot of the funding for non-science/engineering courses and target it where the country needs skills for the future. And with the greatest of respect, I'm not entirely sure that is in producing tens of thousands of English graduates

correct we dont need english graduates when we have a bottomless pit of indian graduates

[DimPrawn]

correct we dont need english graduates when we have a bottomless pit of indian graduates

In a way we've outsourced our education system to India. When we need a grad, we get an Indian one on a ICT visa.

Plenty quickness, much much more cheapness.

[PRC1964]

correct we dont need english graduates when we have a bottomless pit of indian graduates

Teaching English to foreign types is one of our growth industries.

[EternalOptimist]

Teaching English to foreign types is one of our growth industries.

shhh - dont let pm-junkie know

[Zippy]

yeah
they used to be called apprenticeships a long time ago. Is that what you have in mind ?

I have to agree - sorry Menelaus.
Apprenticeships used to be valued though. If you got an apprenticeship people looked up to you and you felt proud. Maybe that's what is missing?

[Was never an apprentice but knew a few]

[Menelaus]

yeah
they used to be called apprenticeships a long time ago. Is that what you have in mind ?

Yep.

But if we're going to have apprentices at least have them doing BEng degrees in mechanical engineering so that they get that out of it as well.

[orac]

degrees are nearly a waste of time

Every Colin Hunt has got a degree these days:

Unless you are in a top ten university, doing a good subject forget it.

Better doing ACCA accountancy:

http://www.peterkeeling.com/html/acca_pass_rates.htm

Some pass rates are 28%, I have been through these exams. No continuous assessment rubbish, 3 hour exams every six months.

I did "A" level Chemistry in the 1980's, how many people got "A"'s then? Oxbridge has every right to demand extra entry exams.

I am now doing my MBA at Durham. I am fed up of IT contracting.

[minestrone]

They should work out how many people the country needs with a certain degree, work out how many graduates needed per year to keep that number stable then provide completely free eduacation for that number who would presumably be the ones with the best entrance marks. If you do not get in then you can pay full whack to the uni if they decide they want you.

If Tarquin wants to do Media Studies with his bum chums then they can all pay themselves.

[Menelaus]

Agreed. I was at a top ten and this was before there was something ridiculous like 200 universities in the country!