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Are there too many universities / courses?
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Mark_KK
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#1
I have just been trawling through the U.C.A.S. website and am totally amazed at some of the things you can study at university.
Some of the degrees were incredible in the way that I never realised they could have enough course material to justify three years teaching at degree level.
Basic economics dictates that the more of something there is the less value people associate with it.
Am I the only person who thinks that this push to get 50% of people in to higher education (mostly university) has resulted in the creation of most of these institutes and courses?
As a result of this we are looking at top up fees etc...
I very much doubt that 50% of people are higher education material so the only way that they can achieve this statistic is by making it possible for almost anyone to study at this level. This results in the creation of a "two tier" university system (if not three or four tiers) and the whole stigma of "mickey mouse" courses.
One girl who is on my English Language AS and A2 Level course has had an offer of 1 E (yes, thats one E) to go to a university and study a particular course. Surly this should not be happening?
I feel that many people will agree with me but will not say anything for the risk of upsetting someone.
Some of the degrees were incredible in the way that I never realised they could have enough course material to justify three years teaching at degree level.
Basic economics dictates that the more of something there is the less value people associate with it.
Am I the only person who thinks that this push to get 50% of people in to higher education (mostly university) has resulted in the creation of most of these institutes and courses?
As a result of this we are looking at top up fees etc...
I very much doubt that 50% of people are higher education material so the only way that they can achieve this statistic is by making it possible for almost anyone to study at this level. This results in the creation of a "two tier" university system (if not three or four tiers) and the whole stigma of "mickey mouse" courses.
One girl who is on my English Language AS and A2 Level course has had an offer of 1 E (yes, thats one E) to go to a university and study a particular course. Surly this should not be happening?
I feel that many people will agree with me but will not say anything for the risk of upsetting someone.
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Joey_Johns
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#2
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#2
Darren from Essex (drives a vauxhall nova) doing a law degree at Southampton Institute will become one of the countries top lawyers. Honest.
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Juwel
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#3
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#3
Yes! There are far too many people going to university and far too many courses. I don't care how elitist that sounds, university is supposed to be for the academically elite anyway.
Good point Mark that we wouldn't have the top-up fees without these courses. Not sure how true this is but it must be in some way.
Good point Mark that we wouldn't have the top-up fees without these courses. Not sure how true this is but it must be in some way.
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Mark_KK
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#4
(Original post by Joey_Johns)
Darren from Essex (drives a vauxhall nova) doing a law degree at Southampton Institute will become one of the countries top lawyers. Honest.
Darren from Essex (drives a vauxhall nova) doing a law degree at Southampton Institute will become one of the countries top lawyers. Honest.
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madmazda86
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#5
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#5
Anyone tried the Stamford test on the UCAS website? I got something like 100 suggested areas of study that they thought I should look at! There's just toooo much to specialise in.
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llama boy
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#6
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#6
Ah, another thread of this ilk, although this time I see we have a healthy dose of class hatred thrown in too!
No, this isn't really true. There has been no significant increase in academic (inc media studies etc, sic) degree courses since Blair announced his 50% target.. in fact, from this point on I don't believe there will be any expansion in that regard.
And, AFAIK, there haven't been any new institutions since the polys changed in 92, and even they don't really count as "new".
If you want to look for reasons for there being more of these courses, your best bet is to look at the spiralling A level grades / pass rate.
(Original post by Mark_KK)
Am I the only person who thinks that this push to get 50% of people in to higher education (mostly university) has resulted in the creation of most of these institutes and courses?
Am I the only person who thinks that this push to get 50% of people in to higher education (mostly university) has resulted in the creation of most of these institutes and courses?
And, AFAIK, there haven't been any new institutions since the polys changed in 92, and even they don't really count as "new".
If you want to look for reasons for there being more of these courses, your best bet is to look at the spiralling A level grades / pass rate.
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Joey_Johns
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#7
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#7
(Original post by Mark_KK)
Lets not forget Tracey from Liverpool doing Media Managment and Photography at London Metropolitan University who will one day become Director General of the B.B.C. - remember you read it here first.
Lets not forget Tracey from Liverpool doing Media Managment and Photography at London Metropolitan University who will one day become Director General of the B.B.C. - remember you read it here first.
They would be the new council estate Posh and Becks.
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Mark_KK
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#8
I am not trying to slate anyone in particular, it just ****es me off the way that the whole system is going.
People tell us that there is no such thing as a Mickey Mouse course or worthless instutute, are these same people saying that ALL of the courses on offer are thus 100% worthwhile?
Does it then follow that someone who had to get 3 "A" grades to study Medicine or some other highly academic subject is equal to someone who tossed about during their "A Levels" and scraped in to somewhere with 1 "E".
Before we get the equal opportunity and fairness for all brigade on here I think we need to remember that University is supposed to be for people who are of a reasonable academic standard, by lowering the standard required for university entry all we are doing is devaluing the whole system and thus creating discrimination against certain courses and institutes.
People tell us that there is no such thing as a Mickey Mouse course or worthless instutute, are these same people saying that ALL of the courses on offer are thus 100% worthwhile?
Does it then follow that someone who had to get 3 "A" grades to study Medicine or some other highly academic subject is equal to someone who tossed about during their "A Levels" and scraped in to somewhere with 1 "E".
Before we get the equal opportunity and fairness for all brigade on here I think we need to remember that University is supposed to be for people who are of a reasonable academic standard, by lowering the standard required for university entry all we are doing is devaluing the whole system and thus creating discrimination against certain courses and institutes.
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llama boy
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#9
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#9
(Original post by Joey_Johns)
Darren and Tracey should get together. Dazza being a 'rude boy' would love to get with a 'lively livapudlian' scouser who has ear rings you can actually hula hoop in and glows orange.
They would be the new council estate Posh and Becks.
Darren and Tracey should get together. Dazza being a 'rude boy' would love to get with a 'lively livapudlian' scouser who has ear rings you can actually hula hoop in and glows orange.
They would be the new council estate Posh and Becks.
Stuff like this (the 3rd such instance on this thread) really doesn't inspire confidence that the opinions juxtaposed with them are any more than an extension of that prejudice.
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llama boy
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#10
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#10
(Original post by Mark_KK)
People tell us that there is no such thing as a Mickey Mouse course or worthless instutute, are these same people saying that ALL of the courses on offer are thus 100% worthwhile?
Does it then follow that someone who had to get 3 "A" grades to study Medicine or some other highly academic subject is equal to someone who tossed about during their "A Levels" and scraped in to somewhere with 1 "E".
People tell us that there is no such thing as a Mickey Mouse course or worthless instutute, are these same people saying that ALL of the courses on offer are thus 100% worthwhile?
Does it then follow that someone who had to get 3 "A" grades to study Medicine or some other highly academic subject is equal to someone who tossed about during their "A Levels" and scraped in to somewhere with 1 "E".
Is there a reason why they have to be equal?
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Mark_KK
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#11
(Original post by llama boy)
No, this isn't really true. There has been no significant increase in academic (inc media studies etc, sic) degree courses
No, this isn't really true. There has been no significant increase in academic (inc media studies etc, sic) degree courses
If you want to look for reasons for there being more of these courses, your best bet is to look at the spiralling A level grades / pass rate.
So which is it to be?
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Joey_Johns
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#12
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#12
(Original post by llama boy)
Glad to see we're focusing on the issues, not just reciting prejudices.
Stuff like this (the 3rd such instance on this thread) really doesn't inspire confidence that the opinions juxtaposed with them are any more than an extension of that prejudice.
Glad to see we're focusing on the issues, not just reciting prejudices.
Stuff like this (the 3rd such instance on this thread) really doesn't inspire confidence that the opinions juxtaposed with them are any more than an extension of that prejudice.
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Mark_KK
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#13
(Original post by llama boy)
Perhaps not.
Is there a reason why they have to be equal?
Perhaps not.
Is there a reason why they have to be equal?
.Just wait till the <subject name> studies and <subject name> ology people come on this thread telling us that they are doing a worthwhile course that is just as valueable as any of the "traditional" subjects and that they are not just spending three years of their lives in the pub.
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llama boy
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#14
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#14
(Original post by Mark_KK)
Ok, so on one hand you tell us that there has been no real increase.
But then you go and say that there has been.
So which is it to be?
Ok, so on one hand you tell us that there has been no real increase.
But then you go and say that there has been.
So which is it to be?
I guess my (badly articulated) point was that there hasn't been the huge growth in this sort of course from nowhere as you implied. Rather, with the polys converting, they have moved somewhat from their traditional type vocational courses to doing this sort as well, although that doesn't mean a huge increase in the overall numbers going to uni.
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llama boy
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#15
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#15
(Original post by Joey_Johns)
The issues which you or anybody else on this forum have no control over.
The issues which you or anybody else on this forum have no control over.
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Mark_KK
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#16
(Original post by llama boy)
Rather, with the polys converting, they have moved somewhat from their traditional type vocational courses to doing this sort as well, although that doesn't mean a huge increase in the overall numbers going to uni.
Rather, with the polys converting, they have moved somewhat from their traditional type vocational courses to doing this sort as well, although that doesn't mean a huge increase in the overall numbers going to uni.
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Ben.S.
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#17
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#17
Of course all degrees aren't 'worth' the same - why would they need to be? If you go into a job related to your degree course, obviously someone with a different degree couldn't get in and vice versa. Employers are perfectly capable of discriminating between 'degrees' and '3-year ****-up certificates'. What is worrying, though, is that the burden of these people is placed upon us.
Ben
Ben
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llama boy
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#18
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#18
(Original post by Mark_KK)
Yes,
.
Just wait till the <subject name> studies and <subject name> ology people come on this thread telling us that they are doing a worthwhile course that is just as valueable as any of the "traditional" subjects and that they are not just spending three years of their lives in the pub.
Yes,
.Just wait till the <subject name> studies and <subject name> ology people come on this thread telling us that they are doing a worthwhile course that is just as valueable as any of the "traditional" subjects and that they are not just spending three years of their lives in the pub.
I'm against doing 6th formers the disservice of pretending all degrees are equal, but aside from that issue, what exactly is the problem with all degrees not being equal?
Surely it has always been the case, a degree from Oxford or LSE has always been more valuable than from institution X, however far you go back?
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Joey_Johns
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#19
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#19
(Original post by llama boy)
Yes.
Yes.
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Mark_KK
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#20
(Original post by Ben.S.)
Employers are perfectly capable of discriminating between 'degrees' and '3-year ****-up certificates'. What is worrying, though, is that the burden of these people is placed upon us.
Ben
Employers are perfectly capable of discriminating between 'degrees' and '3-year ****-up certificates'. What is worrying, though, is that the burden of these people is placed upon us.
Ben
I am also worried at the burden they place on the taxpayer.
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