If you had your time again, would you go to university? Or is it a waste of time and money?
A third of Brits think so, according to the latest British Social Attitudes Survey.
With average student debt in England now at £53,000 it’s not surprising folk are thinking twice.
When I went to university, fees were only £1k a year, and graduate job possibilities – not to mention the prospect of moving away from home and having fun with friends for three years - made it a no-brainer.
Nowadays, a degree is no guarantee of a decent job, with many graduates finding themselves doing bar work or even claiming benefits when they drop out the other side.
Young people who DO decide to go are being much more selective in their subject choices, favouring courses like Business and Computing, because of a sense they’ll lead to higher paying work.
University is so much more than a route into employment though.
At its best, it’s a chance to enrich the mind through deep and expansive learning.
It’s an opportunity to grow as an adult, exploring who we are, away from the family unit, and building confidence and life skills (and not just your alcohol tolerance, although that was certainly a feature of my uni years!)
Most courses help young people develop at least some skills that will help them in their later work life too, such as problem solving, critical thinking and communication.
Even in simple economic terms, on average, working-age graduates earn around £42,000 per year, which is about £11,500 more than the median non-graduate salary of £30,500.
And yet, I can understand the hesitation around university in this rapidly changing workforce.
Are institutions keeping up with the way society is shifting? Are courses truly helping young people make that transition from education?
I don’t know. I would love to hear what you’re seeing around this, especially if you work in Higher Ed or are recruiting graduates into your organisation.
Also, if you were 18 again, would you choose to go to university? If so, might you choose a different subject?