FabSwingers.com forum: University degrees

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Do people believe that we should maybe alter the prices of some degrees depending on the topic studied?

Do people think that a degree is a needed qualification in today's world?

Do people think some students lack life skills, common sense, or a understand for the real working world ?

How do people feel about the way degrees are paid back? If you only earn over a certain amount you then start paying it back ?

Just looking to get people's points of view on this?

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

"Do people believe that we should maybe alter the prices of some degrees depending on the topic studied?

Do people think that a degree is a needed qualification in today's world?

Do people think some students lack life skills, common sense, or a understand for the real working world ?

How do people feel about the way degrees are paid back? If you only earn over a certain amount you then start paying it back ?

Just looking to get people's points of view on this? "

I don't think the prices should vary at all.

Many professions now require you to have a degree I would question if it's needed in some jobs.

I do think some students lack life skills etc but then I think some people in general do.

If I had my way education would be free so i have no problem with people earning a certain amount before they start repaying their student loans.

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

It may be cheaper to offer some degrees that are financially "worth" more. Do we go to a marketplace model or a cost/price model?

I think tertiary education has become more important. I see jobs I was able to get without a degree when I was young now only available to those with a degree.

I think some people lack life skills, common sense and have little understanding of the real working world. This is not something exclusively set aside for the student body.

I think lots of people will never pay back the full costs they have been charged for their degree. We need to plan for this.

I also think we need to value vocational skills much more.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I think we need to alter the price of all degrees, downwards!

The cost of being a student nowadays is ridiculous and we expect our young people to leave in so much debt it's unfair.

I wonder sometimes why some jobs say you need a degree and think we've got to a stage where it's almost compulsory to attend uni.

As for students not having any common sense the same could be said for many people lol.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

"It may be cheaper to offer some degrees that are financially "worth" more. Do we go to a marketplace model or a cost/price model?

I think tertiary education has become more important. I see jobs I was able to get without a degree when I was young now only available to those with a degree.

I think some people lack life skills, common sense and have little understanding of the real working world. This is not something exclusively set aside for the student body.

I think lots of people will never pay back the full costs they have been charged for their degree. We need to plan for this.

I also think we need to value vocational skills much more.

I couldn't agree with your last sentence more. Sadly we value them less with every year that passes in educational terms.

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By *iss_tressWoman
over a year ago

London

"Do people believe that we should maybe alter the prices of some degrees depending on the topic studied?

Do people think that a degree is a needed qualification in today's world?

Do people think some students lack life skills, common sense, or a understand for the real working world ?

How do people feel about the way degrees are paid back? If you only earn over a certain amount you then start paying it back ?

Just looking to get people's points of view on this?

I don't think the prices should vary at all.

Many professions now require you to have a degree I would question if it's needed in some jobs.

I do think some students lack life skills etc but then I think some people in general do.

If I had my way education would be free so i have no problem with people earning a certain amount before they start repaying their student loans."

Likewise!

When I taught in college in the 80s a teaching certificate was enough. For my daughter to teach in uni she needs a PhD.

At her age I was married with a child, she's still at home and I have to tell her to tidy her room!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Absolutely. I've been saying (no-one listens to me!) for years that the STEM subjects should be given more generous grants but there should be an expectation that those students then get a job within that specific field, rather than get an Engineering degree and get poached by a bank etc, i would be ok with that but said bank would have to cover the fees, grants and penalty!

I'm one of these people who's worked his way up through an apprenticeship, I also recruit people for my department from all walks of life - the grads are always the ones i hate interviewing.

I got forced to 'look after' an intern once - he was studying a PhD at Oxford having gained his initial degree at Cambridge. He didn't understand that you shouldn't walk towards a running jet engine and that it could hurt just a little if he was sucked in, I had to run after him and grab him by his neck to stop him inadvertantly killing himself. Academically smart doesn't mean you're smart in other aspects of life!

I don't like the idea of a 'graduate tax' becasue education is important but the way it's delivered is far more important. I gained my degree through investigating plane crashes not sitting in a lecture room reading PowerPoint slides and it absolutely comes across when i'm speaking compared to when someone who went full-time uni speaks.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Best thing I've ever done is drop out of college and not go to uni

It's seems to me that going to university seems to be the be all and end all.

I know a lot just want to go for the student lifestyle and piss it up the wall for a couple of years.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Your right most people will never pay back the money they have borrowed for university. To be fair the government should lower the cost of fees.

But I believe that some people pick subjects or topics without researching the job sector for how many jobs are actually out there that are tailored to their degree.

When I started studying again I made sure I picked something that was going to be needed. I wouldn't want to finish uni and do a graduate scheme program in a field that was not relevant to what I had studied.

We should really invest in more apprenticeships. Experience speaks volume and sometimes working on the job is better that doing the theoretical side in a lecture.

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

I also think we need to value vocational skills much more.

I couldn't agree with your last sentence more. Sadly we value them less with every year that passes in educational terms."

Our skills gap in the this country is on vocational subjects and STEM subjects (which, funnily enough also cover some vocational subjects).

The new power universities have means that this year there is no cap on the number of places they can offer. I can't see this being either a way of opening up university education to more (fees will still apply) or increasing/improving quality.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

I take it you work in engineering right? I'm studying physics.

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"Your right most people will never pay back the money they have borrowed for university. To be fair the government should lower the cost of fees.

But I believe that some people pick subjects or topics without researching the job sector for how many jobs are actually out there that are tailored to their degree.

We should really invest in more apprenticeships. Experience speaks volume and sometimes working on the job is better that doing the theoretical side in a lecture. "

I don't believe education should just be about the job you go in to. I would rather people did a degree in something they are interested in and passionate about, develop and maintain a joy for learning, have the wonderful experiences and meet a range of people as you can at university but then train for a job.

Following a job market only approach will mean that we lose out on the arts and humanities subjects and they have their place for some of us.

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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago

Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound

"I take it you work in engineering right? I'm studying physics. "

Reply and quote will help us know which post you are answering.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

"Your right most people will never pay back the money they have borrowed for university. To be fair the government should lower the cost of fees.

But I believe that some people pick subjects or topics without researching the job sector for how many jobs are actually out there that are tailored to their degree.

We should really invest in more apprenticeships. Experience speaks volume and sometimes working on the job is better that doing the theoretical side in a lecture. "

I wholeheartedly agree that more investment in apprenticeships would be a good thing. However I don't think it's good for society if we tailor education exclusively to employment.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Your right most people will never pay back the money they have borrowed for university. To be fair the government should lower the cost of fees.

But I believe that some people pick subjects or topics without researching the job sector for how many jobs are actually out there that are tailored to their degree.

We should really invest in more apprenticeships. Experience speaks volume and sometimes working on the job is better that doing the theoretical side in a lecture.

Following a job market only approach will mean that we lose out on the arts and humanities subjects and they have their place for some of us.

I think you're absolutely spot on with the danger of following a market driven education stance. That's probably the main defficiency of my 'idea' above. I suppose i'm hoping (foolishly?) that that would introduce more money into further and higher education allowing institutes to be able to support other areas more but i think i'm being far too hopeful there!

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By *qua vitaeWoman
over a year ago

Shropshire/Midlands

"Do people believe that we should maybe alter the prices of some degrees depending on the topic studied?

Do people think that a degree is a needed qualification in today's world?

Do people think some students lack life skills, common sense, or a understand for the real working world ?

How do people feel about the way degrees are paid back? If you only earn over a certain amount you then start paying it back ?

Just looking to get people's points of view on this? "

I would agree to a point that some degrees should be charged a sliding scale, as the initial profession for that degree can vary greatly! However, the danger here is that these 'cheaper' degrees may not appear to be as worthy than the dearer ones. Anyway, most degrees basically teach the same fundamentals, such as academic writing, interpretation and thinking critically, which can be put into practice with a lot of professions.

The real learning for uni students begin after their degrees. It's all very well gaining knowledge from textbooks, or lab experiments, but there's nothing like real life experience.

I have a degree in archaeology and to work as a professional archaeologist, I have to have at least 6 months experience. To get this, I have to either volunteer at my own expense, or pay to go onto excavations. I didn't do it for the money though, but because I love the subject.

As Nice Couple has said, it would be great to see all uni fees gone.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"I take it you work in engineering right? I'm studying physics.

Reply and quote will help us know which post you are answering.

Thanks for the tip. I like your way of thinking but there is not really the time for people to be going through university enjoying a passionate subject and still having a urge to learn. When you take from the system you need to put the money back in. It would be nice if people could just have a free education like some countries like Sweden and Norway but when your taking out large sums of money you should really think about how your going to put it back in and pick wisely what you study.

Students don't think like that they know that they will probably never pay it back and it does not really matter.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

"I take it you work in engineering right? I'm studying physics.

Reply and quote will help us know which post you are answering.

Students don't think like that they know that they will probably never pay it back and it does not really matter. "

I believe that education isn't a means to an end but a means in itself.

What's the earning level now at which you start paying your loan back? Are you saying that most students will never reach that and are unlikely to pay it back or that some just don't ever pay it?

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By *qua vitaeWoman
over a year ago

Shropshire/Midlands

"Do people believe that we should maybe alter the prices of some degrees depending on the topic studied?

Do people think that a degree is a needed qualification in today's world?

Do people think some students lack life skills, common sense, or a understand for the real working world ?

How do people feel about the way degrees are paid back? If you only earn over a certain amount you then start paying it back ?

Just looking to get people's points of view on this?

I don't think the prices should vary at all.

Many professions now require you to have a degree I would question if it's needed in some jobs.

I do think some students lack life skills etc but then I think some people in general do.

If I had my way education would be free so i have no problem with people earning a certain amount before they start repaying their student loans.

Likewise!

When I taught in college in the 80s a teaching certificate was enough. For my daughter to teach in uni she needs a PhD.

At her age I was married with a child, she's still at home and I have to tell her to tidy her room!

You don't necessarily need a PhD to teach at uni (many of my lecturers only have M.A.s), unless, of course, it's a particular uni and then a highly specialised subject.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I hated my time at uni(the drinking and women was a bonus). specifically as I'd worked alot of years in the field I was studying.The theories and practices were outdated via the uni..

I tend to do well in most jobs I do, without needing much in the way of study.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I take it you work in engineering right? I'm studying physics.

Reply and quote will help us know which post you are answering.

Students don't think like that they know that they will probably never pay it back and it does not really matter.

I believe that education isn't a means to an end but a means in itself.

What's the earning level now at which you start paying your loan back? Are you saying that most students will never reach that and are unlikely to pay it back or that some just don't ever pay it?"

9% of income over £21000 from the April after the course has finished.

The only limits to receiving tuition fee loans are you are under 60 at the start of the course and it is your first degree.

I'm about to start part time. I'll be 33/34 by the time the April comes to paying it back but it is very unlikely I will reach the income threshold for a few years after that if at all.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I went to university at 28.

I'd like to see everything at the same price and a graduate tax introduced. It seems like a more honest way of doing it than pretending to pay back loans.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Do people believe that we should maybe alter the prices of some degrees depending on the topic studied?

Do people think that a degree is a needed qualification in today's world?

Do people think some students lack life skills, common sense, or a understand for the real working world ?

How do people feel about the way degrees are paid back? If you only earn over a certain amount you then start paying it back ?

Just looking to get people's points of view on this?

I don't think the prices should vary at all.

Many professions now require you to have a degree I would question if it's needed in some jobs.

I do think some students lack life skills etc but then I think some people in general do.

If I had my way education would be free so i have no problem with people earning a certain amount before they start repaying their student loans.

Likewise!

When I taught in college in the 80s a teaching certificate was enough. For my daughter to teach in uni she needs a PhD.

At her age I was married with a child, she's still at home and I have to tell her to tidy her room!

You don't necessarily need a PhD to teach at uni (many of my lecturers only have M.A.s), unless, of course, it's a particular uni and then a highly specialised subject."

You can get the lower end jobs with an MA/MRes, but you're usually expected to be working towards your PhD at the same time. I'm planning to go into university teaching when I've finished my two degrees, but I know I need to plan for a PhD too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Best thing I've ever done is drop out of college and not go to uni

It's seems to me that going to university seems to be the be all and end all.

I know a lot just want to go for the student lifestyle and piss it up the wall for a couple of years.

I wouldn't say I ever struggled to find work before I went to uni at 28, but I wasn't doing *that* well for myself. I was struggling to break the 22k barrier and I was bored of not earning the kind of money I wanted to earn.

As soon as I'd been at university for 6 months and I updated my CV with the new skills I was gaining and the things I'd been taught, I started being offered jobs that were considerably better paid than anything I'd been able to get before.

I now have companies contacting me asking if I'm interested in working for them after I finish university next May.

University has changed my life. Massively. I couldn't imagine living the way that I was living before for the rest of my life.

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