Don’t waste time and money on useless degrees, students told

 
12 August 2013

A-Level students should consider vocational courses instead of university because too many degrees are a waste of time and money, an expert on business and education warned today.

Sir John Stuttard, master-elect of the Company of Educators and former Lord Mayor of The City of London, said graduates are often left working in coffee shops and bars after choosing courses that do not lead to a career.

His comments come as thousands of teenagers prepare to receive their A-level results on Thursday, with some universities offering incentives such as free mini iPads and laptops for the brightest students to apply to them for places.

Sir John, a former partner at accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers, said more firms should take students on directly from school, and warned that a lack of career guidance is harming the prospects of teenagers who think that university is the only route.

He warned: “Pupils are encouraged to try for university with few other higher education alternatives presented to them. We have the prospect of many graduates leaving university with large debts and with degrees in subjects that give little or no career choice — other than to work in coffee shops and bars.”

Sir John said a university education is not right for everyone and it was a “sad day” when technical colleges were turned into universities to offer academic courses instead of vocational training.

He added: “It is very sad when people pay a lot of money for a product that is not good. They are buying an education. If it doesn’t lead them to a fulfilling career it is very sad.

“The difficulty is if you are paying a huge amount of money and leave not equipped to do a job the system is failing you. You really need better guidance in career and choice of further study.”

Sir John, who is still an adviser to PwC, urged other firms to take on more apprentices directly from school, and said there is no stigma for people who “have gone down the vocational route.” He said: “For many decades employers in the City of London have migrated to an all-graduate entry. But things are changing and many more City businesses, such as accountancy firms, are now again recruiting directly from school. They are offering the traditional apprenticeships that were a successful feature of job training in former times.”

Sir John’s warning comes after leading academic Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said that “practically-minded” sixth formers who would previously have struggled with A-levels are now more likely to take vocational courses and apprenticeships.

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