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AIBU

University degrees

(251 Posts)
Beswitched Fri 12-Nov-21 12:51:01

Every school leaver nowadays seems to go onto to some sort of 3rd level education,. Many of them then move into exactly the same jobs that a 2nd level education was perfectly fine for when we were young.

AIBU to wonder why a degree seems to be a basic requirement for every job nowadays, and to think it's unfair on less academic kids who shine at more practical things to be pressured into going onto further study?

What is wrong with on the job training for jobs that don't require a specific degree?

Calistemon Sun 14-Nov-21 21:33:25

Marmite32

Hooray I'm back in (fennel).

I'll never remember! ?

Beswitched Sun 14-Nov-21 19:51:31

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Doodledog Sun 14-Nov-21 11:06:15

Maybe. Fruit and vegetable harvesting is probably a complex matter, which will need to be done properly if waste is to be minimised and supply chains kept going. I’m reluctant to speculate on courses or subjects I know nothing about, but I’d be surprised if it isn’t already covered in degrees on estate management or similar.

Lorry driving is training, not education (ie the learning of a skill, as opposed to the theory and context of its application), so would be better done in a college or training school than in a university.

Ro60 Sun 14-Nov-21 10:22:57

Maybe they could/should have modules in fruit & vegetable harvesting, lorry driving (not hgv), to name but a few.

PippaZ Sun 14-Nov-21 09:27:13

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V3ra Sun 14-Nov-21 00:47:37

Galaxy

We dont want things like drama and theatre being taught though, where will it end shock

For my son, it's ended with him achieving his childhood dream of becoming a Police Officer.

He thoroughly enjoyed his three years studying drama, and often says he doesn't begrudge a penny of his loan which he is happy to pay back.

My Mum often said it did him good and he grew up a lot during his years as a student living away from home.

M0nica Sat 13-Nov-21 19:24:55

grannypiper There is no racket about the masters degrees you mention. They are all professional training degrees that a student pays for themselves and use to fine tune a more general degree into a particular career path.

I did two of these; one in Information Science and one in Landscape Archaeology. The first one made my career possible, the other, although a professional course, I did on retirement, but several of my fellow students mow have senior positions in the heritage sector.

The subjects you mention are certainly not BA/BSc subjects, too specialised, but reasonable at a higher level.

A lot of people go back to university to study a personal interest after they retire and many universities run some MA/SC courses's aimed specifically at that demographic. The Robin Hood Studies course may be just such a course. They are nice little earners for the universities.

Marmite32 Sat 13-Nov-21 19:16:10

Hooray I'm back in (fennel).

Marmite32 Sat 13-Nov-21 19:15:09

Just testing

JaneJudge Sat 13-Nov-21 19:12:56

Germanshepherdsmum

Well that’s more than I did Jane! University of life, that’s me.

nothing wrong with that? smile

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 13-Nov-21 17:40:06

Well that’s more than I did Jane! University of life, that’s me.

JaneJudge Sat 13-Nov-21 17:36:29

<gallops as quickly and elegantly as possible>

JaneJudge Sat 13-Nov-21 17:36:01

I went to a designated art school for my degree so maybe I should be shot in plain sight

Doodledog Sat 13-Nov-21 17:13:41

With people from less affluent backgrounds having an input into the culture of the country, instead of leaving it all to the Footlights lot?

Shocking, I agree.

Galaxy Sat 13-Nov-21 17:06:38

We dont want things like drama and theatre being taught though, where will it end shock

Beswitched Sat 13-Nov-21 16:56:08

PippaZ

^I'm not sure what 3rd level means - is that an Irish thing? In the UK level 3 is A level and equivalent, but from your post it seems that you are talking about something different.^

We've had the same almost the same discussion about this when the same criticism was raised previously Doodledog. We were told it was an Irish thing - the same as "tertiary" education. Sadly, I am beginning to doubt the authenticity of what some posters tell us so I can say if it's true or not; it was a little while ago.

Perhaps Google it for yourself rather than relying on other posters if you don't trust what they say. It's not difficult to verify.

Doodledog Sat 13-Nov-21 16:38:38

By the sound of it though, you have no idea what else will be being taught, so you are probably not best placed to make that judgment.

grannypiper Sat 13-Nov-21 16:24:19

You are right JaneJudge and i should have double checked. I still cannot agree that any of these degrees are worthwhile and should be paid for by the tax payer.

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 13-Nov-21 16:19:51

grannypiper I believe 1 and 3 are modules within degree courses, 2 is a one year Master’s therefore very specific medieval studies following a bachelor’s.

Not a racket.

Doodledog Sat 13-Nov-21 16:17:28

Universities vary, but electives are often modules that can be taken by students on a range of degrees, to broaden their knowledge base, so it might fit with literature or cultural studies courses. I can see how it could work as a whole course through, if students looked at the history, cultural differences etc. I know nothing about stand-up comedy other than as an audience, but I’m sure there will be enough to work with. It’s narrow minded to write off something without all the detail, and as I say, it will have been scrutinised to ensure that it is at degree standard.

JaneJudge Sat 13-Nov-21 15:53:02

so the above module is an elective component that could contribute to a BA in Drama and Theatre

JaneJudge Sat 13-Nov-21 15:50:43

I don't understand university courses very well but the stand up comedy one is here and it is a module not an actual degree?

grannypiper Sat 13-Nov-21 15:44:27

3 degree courses you can take in the UK today:-

1, Stand up comedy masters degree at U of Kent

2, The Robin Hood Studies degree at U of Nottigham

3 Cake technology management at South bank University

A total waste of tax payers money. High time this racket was brought to an end.

PippaZ Sat 13-Nov-21 15:21:53

That was the one, Doodledog.

Doodledog Sat 13-Nov-21 14:33:52

I've just googled, and in Ireland a third level education includes universities, colleges and colleges of education (teacher training colleges), so yes - the same as tertiary.

It's not a term I'd come across, but now you mention it, I do have a vague memory of it being used in a thread about how nurses don't need degrees either.