The place where little snippets of Careers News dribble in:
Useless? To a degree
Discussion whether a degree is the best way forward. Is it life widening but not particularly relevant to employers? Click here
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('The Times' March 16th 2006)
Degree only worth £150,000!
A Swansea uni study has set £150,000 as the wages benefit of a degree- appreciably less than general £400,000 quotations. The skills gained in a degree were highly rated though and the study found interesting variants for the genders and certain degree disciplines.
('The Guardian' June 2nd 2005)
Students graduate with £13,500 debt
The 11th Barclays Annual Graduate Survey has shown a 12% increase in the average debt for uni students who graduate this year. 73% will graduate in debt, 7% fewer than last year. The Vice President of the NUS was extremely concerned at the figures. The Times quoted the average pre-tax income for graduates to be £19,810.
('The Guardian' April 14th 2005)
National entrance exam for Universities?
Trials for a single national entrance exam for uni begin this autumn and could lead to a common test for all prospective uni entrants.
('The Guardian' April 14th 2005)
Universities to cut intake of private school pupils!
Article claims HEFCE imposed targets to increase the quota of state pupils will make it harder for Independent school students to enter some of the top universities.
('The Sunday Times' March 13th 2005)
Oxbridge woos poorer students!
'It's not what's in your pocket, it's what's in your head'! This Oxford Uni ad to attract bright students from poor families is a forerunner to the bursaries market many unis will play when annual top-up fees of £3000 are imposed.
('The Guardian' March 8th 2005)
Get ahead with gap internships!
More to follow but the article was highlighting the increasing trend of placement years offered pre university by top companies!
('The Sunday Times' February 27th 2005)
Gap Year adventures don't expand the mind!
Following interviews with about 50 young people who had spent a year travelling, conclusions were drawn about how too many travellers missed out on local culture. They were too busy backpacking with friends, speaking their own lingo still and emailing/ texting home to catch up with the latest soap plot lines!
('The Daily Mail' late February 2005)
Graduate prospects!
AGR reports a 15% increase in graduate jobs for 2005, an average starting salary of £22,000 and the growing rise of a gap year or continued study upon graduation. Despite this optimism, a rep from the NUS commented on the pessimism regarding future employment prospects.
('The Guardian' February 10th 2005)
GCSEs and A Levels are rubbish!
The encouraging news for the young people who have slogged their guts out to get fantastic exam grades is that these exams are devalued and so easy anyone could pass with an A grade! At least, that is the implication of proposals for them to be replaced with a diploma between 14 and 19. Radical change or amendment? Which would you prefer?
(All papers during October 2004)
Top-up Fees!
The government has said those students leaving school in 2005 who defer a place before August 1st 2005 will be able to have a gap year, enter Uni in 2006 and not pay the new top-ups.
Meanwhile 2/3 of universities in England are preparing to charge other students, who enter in 2006, the maximum "top-up" fee of £3,000 for all their courses, according to a Guardian survey, which revealed deep-seated unease about the funding system being introduced.
('The Guardian' September 21st 2004)
Grad-Spam!
Random mass-(e)mailed CVs are not hitting their intended target according to a report nor are the masses of applications strewn with errors.
Job applicants are advised to keep CVs to a 2 side maximum, push their strengths, be relevant and never underplay the value of work experience.
('The Times' January 13th 2004)
Girls on top!
Girls are now performing better than boys at every academic level. A recent Brunel survey showed 65% of women gain a first class or upper second degree while only 35% of males achieved this. Those surveyed entered Uni with the same A Level grades. 'Girls simply work harder' said Fiona Smith from Brunel.
('The Sun' November 18th 2003)
Top Universities told to favour good grades from bad schools!
Credit may be given by some Unis to students who have overcome poor schooling and received the same grades as students who have attended more academic institutions. 'Potential' being the decider. What implications does this hold for Independent schools?
('The Times' September 27th 2003)
It could be a lottery!
Some Unis have already begun selecting medical students, of similar abilities and potential, by random selection. While some say selection for places at the top Unis is already a lottery in all bar name, some fear this method might be adopted by more or all Universities.
('The Times' September 6th 2003)
Graduates start on at least 20k
Starting salaries for graduates have hit £20k, the AGR says
On average, 42 (up from 37) people are applying for every post
