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Students question the value of university but not the merit of education

With today's UCAS figures showing a decline in the number of young people choosing to enter university in 2012 (-3.6 per cent), many students are facing tough decisions about their future and are questioning the value of a university education when record numbers of graduates cannot find employment.

With tuition fees jumping to up to £9000 per year, students are left with a difficult decision to make - to continue their education through the traditional route of university or enter the work force based on A-level (or equivalent) qualifications alone. For those opting for university, many will face the prospect of long term graduate debt, unemployment or underemployment at the end of their studies.

Consequently, many students are now seeking out ways to gain the further qualifications that are so important to their professional progression without becoming saddled with the burden of long term debt. There are alternative ways for students currently finishing their A-levels to enter higher education without facing the hikes in University tuition fees that come into force in the autumn of 2012.

Higher education routes that allow people to combine professionally recognised qualifications and work can allow them to gain an academic education beyond A-level qualifications, offset the costs of study and acquire valuable hands on experience. Professional qualifications are highly respected within industry and for many employers, go beyond the advantages of having a degree.

Anita Stubbs, director of education at The Chartered Institute of Marketing said,

There is a misconception that university is the only route to continuing education when in fact there are other options available. Students often think that employers will only hire graduates engendering the feeling that failing to enter the race for a university place will make them untouchable in a competitive job market.

Gaining a degree can be advantageous but no young person should feel forced to into making a life changing decision that simply is not the right path for them.

Qualifications that are practice-based and encourage the development of business skills as well as practical knowledge are valued by employers and are gaining greater acceptance among students. Degree programmes at some universities are becoming more practice-based in order to help employability, but this is not the only route by which people can become 'qualified'.

Recruiters and employers are increasingly looking for people with 'work ready' skills and the ability to apply their knowledge. This means that courses that enable students do develop these skills are more likely to improve employability than an academic qualification alone.

At a time when school and college leavers are weighing up the pros and cons of a university education, being able to consider all the options available is crucial to realising that the future is not the stark choice between learning and livelihood, but also an opportunity to combine the two.

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