As a lifelong academic who has worked with literally thousands of students over the years I am huge advocate of university education. However, while it is a great way to learn new skills and prepare for a future career, more recently I have been concerned about students’ motives for applying and also their prospects once they qualify.
Recent findings have shown a record number of applications for British Universities this year. The Government’s conclusion is that this highlights the importance of a degree in these challenging times, and that students are taking steps to ensure a successful career. However it may be that some students don’t have such well-calculated intentions in mind. Another likely motivation for signing up to three years of university is fear of unemployment. This means that a higher proportion of school leavers, including those who are less suited to university and might be better to look for a job immediately, are simply choosing to attend university as an alternative to the braving the job market during the ‘scary’ recession.
The problem is that this solution may be a very short-term fix- one that will not be without consequences in terms of storing up problems for the future. We need only look at the current crop of university graduates to see that a degree does not always guarantee a job. In fact, whilst the number of university applicants is at an all time high, the number of vacancies for graduates is set to decrease this year, for the first time in the last five years. It’s tough out there!
In addition, graduates face the new risk of being exploited by potential employers. School and university leavers feel forced into taking jobs for little or no pay in an attempt to gain experience and avoid CV gaps. These internships can be a vital stepping stone into full employment, but they can also mean workers setting out in their careers are left vulnerable to employers who see an opportunity to save costs.
The common theme driving these actions is fear. Job security is one of the key factors that determine people’s well-being – it can affect both those already in roles and those searching for employment. Young people in particular need to be given the right advice at this very important time in their lives – in this sense well-being at work actually starts pre-employment. This is something that schools and universities have a duty to provide – but those leaving the education system must also take responsibility here. It is also important that they stay resilient and don’t panic – entering the workforce at a time of recession can be a daunting task, but opportunities will be out there for those with talent and self-confidence. The important thing is to let your goals determine your choices – for some this will mean university and for some others it will mean work. Either way don’t let fear decide for you!
Dear Mr Cooper,
As a recent graduate and discoverer of your blog, I felt compelled to add a comment to your post…I hope you don’t mind!
(I graduated in languages and business last July from a top ten university. Since then I have undertaken a 6 month ‘Graduate talent pool’ placement in local government and now have a 6 month contract with an RPO company that serviced my internship employers. I also had a one-year work placement as part of my degree, alongside other shorter internships/work placements throughout my university life.)
Despite all of the experience and professional and personal development that I have been fortunate to gain, I cannot agree strongly enough with your statement about fear being a huge influencing factor on student choices, as it undoubtedly affected my choices personally, too…even before the declaration of the current recession. I would also personally highlight, however, that I believe that the chronic lack of career/employment focus running through our current education system at all levels (that I have seen) leads to a very unstable, uncertain workforce that has, often, not fulfilled its potential. It seems to me that not only are students scared, but often ill equipped to develop themselves; to opt-out of university if it really isn’t for them; to not be scared about choosing an apprenticeship if they think that is for them. … I am just continuously surprised by the amount of people who are just in a job/career because they fell into it 20 years ago because nobody gave them the time or helped them to develop the confidence/skills to actually choose a career.
I would love to see so many aspects of the UK’s education system(s)/resource(s) overhauled and planned far more strategically for its users, with support from birth to old age! I would strongly encourage better collaboration (or even just any collaboration in some instances!) between schools, colleges, universities, career services, the LSC/SFA/YPLA, the NAS and so many other organisations, as I feel that it is not only poor graduates (some of whom I have met who were genuinely just shovelled into university as Labour’s ’50%’ mantra trickled down into schools/colleges) but also those who are at the other end of the spectrum (looking for more practical development/work) who are also suffering/’making do’.
Perhaps I am being a little unrealistic in thinking that people can be assisted in working out their passions in life – and sensibly duided to best understand the labour market in relation to their wishes – and then be supported on their way to achieving their goals (with this sort of helping hand being crucial in those first 20 years). Or maybe this urge to add a comment to your blog is borne out of a little frustration that I personally still do not know where my ‘niche’ is in the working world, even after all of the experience I have actively sought out myself!?! But I must admit that I do feel that the education system and education policies, as they are currently set up, are not designed to meet the UK’s future needs for growth/a return to a more stable economy. The people policy just doesn’t seem to be working to me. And, of course, on top of that, we now have very experienced senior people who are also out of work, which constitutes a very scary time for me indeed!
(apologies if this is a little rambling!)
Yours truly,
A Graduate.