The Student Protests

[Mungler]

So, the Country is skint and the numbers involved are ridiculous; the level of the Country's debt is like winning the Euro Millions lottery quintuple roll over and then placing a bet on a horse at a billion to one and in coming in.

 

So, it's belt tightening time. VAT's going up, prices are going up, benefits are being slashed.... Should the students be exempt?

 

I've done a degree and it was fun. Yes I learnt 'stuff' and got a degree but it was a massive f-about. Don't get me wrong, through my degree I had a part time job that was "car counting" for a market research company - yes, it sounds daft but we did 16 hour shifts by the roadside and I earnt enough to have to pay a fair whack of income tax.

 

The core point however is this... I could have done the degree course in 12 months full time, possible 18 months and 24 months at an absolute push. I genuinely believe that the average degree course can be done in less than 2 years and possibly 1 year full time working hard. How's that for slashing the cost of a degree course?

 

Indeed, back in the old days people that wanted to get on went to night school.

 

And on that note, until the Open University students go on a march and reap havoc then I'm not interested.

[artschool]

i agree. my first degree was full time but i hated being in university so did my next degree part time which was much better as i was in work learning useful skills.

 

too much time in university is taken up drinking and recovering from hangovers. i would also add that there are far too many people in university who really shouldnt be there in the first place.

[Mungler]

Absolutely. If you had to put your own money behind your degree everyone would do something useful and back a degree that made commercial sense and would give a return. It would be the end of the media studies / humanities degree....

[MM]

So, the Country is skint and the numbers involved are ridiculous; the level of the Country's debt is like winning the Euro Millions lottery quintuple roll over and then placing a bet on a horse at a billion to one and in coming in.

 

So, it's belt tightening time. VAT's going up, prices are going up, benefits are being slashed.... Should the students be exempt?

 

I've done a degree and it was fun. Yes I learnt 'stuff' and got a degree but it was a massive f-about. Don't get me wrong, through my degree I had a part time job that was "car counting" for a market research company - yes, it sounds daft but we did 16 hour shifts by the roadside and I earnt enough to have to pay a fair whack of income tax.

 

The core point however is this... I could have done the degree course in 12 months full time, possible 18 months and 24 months at an absolute push. I genuinely believe that the average degree course can be done in less than 2 years and possibly 1 year full time working hard. How's that for slashing the cost of a degree course?

 

Indeed, back in the old days people that wanted to get on went to night school.

 

And on that note, until the Open University students go on a march and reap havoc then I'm not interested.

 

They do protest mate, but its only via the post. :lol:

[Mungler]

MM that generated LOL and a perplexed look from Mrs. Mungler. Home run there squire

[sako751sg]

I think all the parachute reg battalions should be tooled up with pick axe handles and let loose.Problem solved.

[Dave 101]

I have always believed that uni places should be sponsored by industry , so if say ICI needs a chemist they sponsor someone to do the degree then go and work at ICI . The lad next door to me went to uni for 3 years he spent most of his time at home in a band because he did all the uni work so quick . then he worked filling shelves at Sainsbury's .

I was self employed and needed to get a city and guilds so it was day release for one day and 5 days grafting at my job paid for by me . Did you here Simon Mayo a couple of nights ago talking to some lecturer from a uni about how to tell jokes , its not a joke a uni coarse on how to be a comic . This is what we are paying for , no let them pay their own way .

 

Dave

Edited December 8, 2010 by Dave 101

[poontang]

A very good point about working on it full time for a year, rather than stretch it out.

I'm sure some of the 'lightweight' courses will become far less popular now and prospective students will be more focussed on which course/s to choose, knowing how much it's going to cost in the long run.

You've only got to look at Prince William to see what's wrong with the present system. He did a degree in the 'History of Art'....... and became a helicopter pilot

[Mungler]

A degree in Art History? Yeah, you hear it all the time, the Country needs Engineers, Chemists, Doctors, Captains of Industry and Art Historians.

 

I have always been quite practical and could never see the point in doing a degree that didn't have a purpose or a career behind it.

 

The funniest one was when I was at Manchester and a mummy's boy from Guildford was doing a humanities degree and when I asked him what he wanted to do after his degree his answer was "stock broker". What was double funny was that he joined all the Uber trendy stuff like the Socialist Worker party and a couple of the anarchist groups; he had no idea that his "membership" of a number of ultra left wing (and ultra trendy groups and parties) would probably count against him in his quest for a career in stock broking...

 

To summarise, most were complete wet idiots that should have been on degrees in common sense.

[MM]

MM that generated LOL and a perplexed look from Mrs. Mungler. Home run there squire

 

 

cheers mate. wasnt sure how many would get it though

[angrymallard]

There will be a protest held here in Belfast tomorrow and although i probably should attended i am not going to. I should be starting university in setptember doing a degree either in biological sciences or environmental biology. It is probably painstakingly obvious that i would agree with the pricipal of the protests, people before us got cheap university places and i think it is a little bit hypocritical that some post graduates are have taken such a stong opposition to them. It is pressure on the economy i know but it is also beneficial in the long run when we need educated people with further education to run the economy and support the rest of the population. I think that cuts should be made where they can be in other areas first such as making people work, who can work, for the welfare benefits they recieve be it part time or vouluntary. I would agree with the shortening of courses to that the could be completed with the space of say 2 years and belive that is maybe something universities should be considering if they can offer the course at a less extorionate fee.

Edited December 8, 2010 by angrymallard

[benbaikal]

if these students have got so much time to protest why are they not in part time employment they need to wake up and let go of there mothers apron strings and the states load of tree huggers

[Dougy]

I have met some rite plonkers doing these so called Degrees,

Funny or what, just a cop out from hard work if you ask me, get out and get a job, some young chap stopping at a B&B in Ireland whilst fishing was doing a degree in "Banking" i had to ask him twice what it was his degree was in

 

We never had owt for nowt in our day.

[Cookiemonsterandmerlin.]

I think everybody has a right to basic education but not further education .

 

There is too many in this country trying to be in well paid jobs.

 

Which has made way for the polish etc to take the lower class jobs as our countrymen/women would not do the work .

 

But in all walks of history we need diffrent classes of pepole to do the jobs from the top down to bottom .

 

Regards OTH

[Billy.]

Problem is that most doctors and nurses (and other medical graduates) of the future will have to clear a £45,000 debt... The media keep referring to three year debts, but not the longer degrees.

Edited December 9, 2010 by Billy.

[Mungler]

The rub is this; if you are doing a degree in something useful or worthwhile you will have the confidence that you will get a job at some point and your ability to afford to repay the state for your 'further' education. If you are doing a degree in some BS subject like basket weaving then you might want to think on about your choice of degree course.

 

Don't get me wrong I think that there should be free tuition passes in certain subjects where there is a shortage of skills e.g. health care and engineering. However, the country is skint and the cuts that are going to be made, must be made.

 

I have 3 kids that at some point will be filling out a UCAS form and so yes it would easy for me to say the tuition cuts shouldn't happen because I potentially have 3 in the pipeline. But no, the further education system needs a kick up the backside and shake up because it is wasteful - I would start with 2 year degree course for some subjects.

 

As for the tantrums on the streets, smashing up conservative party HQ and lobbing fire extinquishers off roof tops, oh yea, that's very BA(Hons) innit.

[poontang]

Problem is that most doctors and nurses (and other medical graduates) of the future will have to clear a £45,000 debt... The media keep referring to three year debts, but not the longer degrees.

 

I think nursing degrees are funded by the NHS and students get a bursary of about £6,000 pa. They are however also entitled to a student loan (which has to be paid back) but it is optional, and many take on part time work to help fund them.

[ST3V3]

living in loughborough which has quite a successful uni my view on studens isnt that hi most of the shops in town have big signs with 20% student discount, certain nights where you can get in pubs and clubs without nus card. So what about the people who live here all year round that get stiffed paying full price for eeverything inflated house prices inflated council tax. yet the town pubs are busy most nights of the week with students they obviously have spare cash so they should pay all there tuition fees!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Flashman]

What you are really suggesting is that more students attend "further" education colleges. These are more vocational, part time courses.

 

Another benefit of university is to allow students to spread their wings and live away from home. Trouble is, nobody wants to pay anything like fair market rate for the privilege. It is interesting to note that the USA universities do allow higher charging and families got into the habit of saving for the "college fund" much earlier.

[Fisherman Mike]

I think nursing degrees are funded by the NHS and students get a bursary of about £6,000 pa. They are however also entitled to a student loan (which has to be paid back) but it is optional, and many take on part time work to help fund them.

 

Not so...each is means tested. NHS might pay the course fees but a Bursary is not guarranteed.

[libs]

I could honestly say most degrees could be nocked out in two years, our timestables down here are amazingly gappy, SOme weeks I only have to spend 8 hours in lectures. The amount of waste at my university is amazing.

 

I am all for the increase but then I am a massive Tory and will always be a fan of cut backs. Although I do think key roles should be better supported, i.e. healthcare, accounting, the sciences etc..... Degrees that are going to earn the user a lot of money which will eventually be taxed back into the nationwide slushfund at least.

 

Degree in interior design with art?? Jog on...

[artschool]

 

 

Degree in interior design with art?? Jog on...

 

ooohhhhh close!! almost put my running shoes on

[al4x]

I just wish the ******* would stop protesting in London its getting tedious particularly as a few of my biggest customers seem to be right in the front line so to speak.

[Fisherman Mike]

Personally I think the protests are justified. I also think further education should be free but entry standards should be raised significantly. Higher education is paramount to the future prosperity of this country and these young students are the key. Admittedly at the moment far too many semi intelligent students obtain university places and see it as 3 year sabbatical before seeking a job. The nucleus of these are freeloaders who regard university as extended sixth form where they were allowed complete autonomy. To some extent many of the lecturers are of the same mould. The equivalent A level syllabus in most subjects currently is far too easy, certainly easier than when I studied in the 70,s… My sons recent Chemistry and Physics papers were a piece of **** compared to the ones I took and I don’t believe Teaching has got better by such an extent to be responsible for the record number of A level passes at A or A* grade which we are seeing in the last 10 15 years. A guaranteed university place is becoming almost accepted as natural progression after sixth form in many schools and many students just do not have the satisfactory level of intelligence to obtain this.

 

Putting a son or daughter through University is a massive cost for a parent, my eldest is doing a Physiotherapy degree at Bristol and besides her Student loan we have already spent the best part of 17K on her in 18 months. She is expected to travel at her own costs between placements involving train, bus and taxi fares, find accommodation and subsistence; she is not a socialiser so isn’t particularly into the binge which many students fall into. A part-time job is out of the question she wouldn’t have the time. We have helped her financially because we can afford to (at the moment) but if University fees do increase it will be the majority of parents who will have to pick up the tab and not the students.

I think we also have to bear in mind that Thousands of votes were won by the Liberal Democrats due to their Pledge and I use the word Pledge in its proper context, not to increase University fees. This people now feel cheated and it is of such gravity that it is now driving a wedge albeit a thin one at this stage, between politicians of the same party and potentially between parties in the coalition. It’s my opinion that fees should be reduced, entrance criteria made much more demanding which will encourage the elite. I for one hope the students are successful in their protests. Besides we might need their support again in a few years time

[al4x]

the lib dems didn't win the election though so to an extent they can't carry out their election pledges. UK plc is bust we can't keep funding everything to the level we have been, yes these fees seem high but the grim reality is they reckon 50% at most will actually be repaid due to some people never earning enough to start repaying it