One Third of Individuals Believe University Is a Useless Investment: Survey
Research shows that vocational education is considered better preparation for the changing job market compared to university, with twice as many people holding this belief.
According to a poll, nearly a third of the public now think that a university education is not worth the time and money, a significant increase from 18 percent in 2018.
The Policy Institute at King’s College London (KCL) conducted the survey, which was published on Wednesday, revealing that 76 percent of respondents favor more opportunities for apprenticeships for school leavers, compared to just 39 percent who prefer increased university opportunities.
Researchers also noted that 53 percent of the public believe vocational education better prepares young individuals for work life, as opposed to the 11 percent who think university is a better choice.
When asked about which education pathway helps individuals adapt to job market changes throughout their careers, 38 percent favored vocational education over the 19 percent who selected university.
In terms of financial stability later in life, responses were evenly split, with 25 percent in favor of university education and 26 percent supporting vocational training.
Professor Bobby Duffy from the Policy Institute highlighted the public’s preference for more vocational education and apprenticeships alongside universities.
Parents Favor Apprenticeships Over Degrees
The survey also revealed that 48 percent of parents prefer apprenticeships for their children, while only 40 percent favor a university degree.
Graduates, however, mostly agree that their degrees were worth it, with 66 percent citing the benefits in finding jobs and advancing their careers. Still, 30 percent disagreed with this sentiment.
Professor Alison Wolf emphasized the value of universities while acknowledging the growing skepticism towards the traditional university path, advocating for a more balanced education approach that includes apprenticeships.
A spokesperson for Universities UK emphasized that vocational training and degrees complement each other rather than compete, providing examples where higher education directly serves vocational purposes.
Recently, the education think tank EDSK released a report calling for the integration of academic and vocational training streams into one tertiary education system.
