Our universities are some of the best in the world. Four of the world’s top ten universities are in England and 55 current world leaders were educated at UK higher education institutions.
They boost our global influence and help to prepare young people for the future in a rapidly changing workplace.
Some universities are leading the way in getting young people ready for valuable careers, so they can contribute to the economy and fulfil their potential.
But this isn’t the case everywhere – and there are too many universities offering poor courses that don’t help people get well-paid jobs or offer skills that are needed in the real world.
The Office for Students, for example, has been focusing their inspections on business and management courses which hugely vary in quality, both in delivery and outcomes for students.
There are too many universities offering poor courses that don’t help people get well-paid jobs or offer skills that are needed in the real world. Stock photo of university lecture theatre
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan leaves 10 Downing Street following a Cabinet Meeting earlier this month
Their data published this year shows that, at 38 providers, less than 75 per cent of students completed their course.
That’s why the Prime Minister has announced important new measures to clamp down on university degrees which don’t prepare students for the world of work.
Three years at university is a huge commitment and a significant financial investment for anyone to take on. So it’s not fair if students are saddled with a degree that’s not worth the paper it’s written on.
These courses aren’t just a waste of time and money for students – they’re costly for the taxpayer, too.
Why should we all be expected to help pick up the bill for poor-quality degrees that are never going to lead to a worthwhile job?
In 2019, I worked on a paper with Onward which showed that too many young people are being sold a false promise, taking on debt to study a course which won’t help them secure a great job.
Read Related Also: Alligator kills woman, 69, in South Carolina and the beast is found guarding her mutilated body
Why should we all be expected to help pick up the bill for poor-quality degrees that are never going to lead to a worthwhile job?
Thanks to our reforms and the tireless efforts we’ve made to drive up standards in our schools, this country’s teachers deliver a first-class education for our children up to the age of 18.
We now need higher education to be reliable and high quality, giving our businesses the skilled workforce they need to compete on the global stage.
So, WE are making important changes to the way the system works. First, we are making it harder for universities to take on students for courses that don’t provide value for money.
Second, we are sharpening the focus on what you can expect to earn after graduating. Third, we’re cutting down on foundation years in classroom-based subjects which don’t need them.
I’m living proof that university isn’t the only way to get a top job. Coming from a working-class family in Huyton, Liverpool, with no history of anyone going to university, I put my trust in General Motors and Liverpool John Moores University to gain a degree through an apprenticeship.
The experience I gained enabled me to build a successful career of almost 30 years working in international business with some of the biggest companies in the world. The trust I put in them paid off, but we must make sure that is the same for everyone.
There are many ways to gain higher education – it doesn’t just need to be full-time study or with a degree. We need to make sure that everyone knows about all the brilliant apprenticeships, T Levels and Skills Bootcamps.
These routes support our growth in industries such as our brilliant arts and creative sector with degree apprenticeships such as production management, allowing students to earn while they learn.
I’m delighted to say that this autumn we will launch a single online platform so people can access careers and training opportunities.
This is where students and employers can come and find out what’s on offer. It will make planning next steps easier and clearer for students to understand and show the many options that are available.
And we’ll also make it easier for small businesses to offer apprenticeships by making it easier to register an apprentice.
I want to ensure everyone gets the opportunity to reach their full potential whatever that route may be. Our reforms will make sure the next generation of graduates get a return on their investment and a passport to a great future.
