Relevance of University Degrees Today - Essay Example

Running Header: Relevance of University Degrees Today Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code & Name: Date of Submission: Relevance of University Degrees Today Introduction I agree that the change of time has had impact with regard to the benefits that were previously exclusive for degree holders. In the past one enrolling for a university degree was assured of job placement sooner after completion of their studies; however things have changed with increase in the number of students who enroll for university degrees as well as the number of courses that have been improved. One’s decision to pursue a university degree requires a lot of commitment with regard to time and money resources that will be required; therefore it is not a thought that can be taken easily. In addition to this, the university degree studies require one to set aside several years of research and intense work. When considering whether to join a university program of not perhaps one would consider his or her career goal. The question that runs among today’s undergraduates is the relevance of these degrees in developing career goals. This comes even as many individuals with degrees miss opportunities to work therefore cannot adequately develop their career objectives. Students should be encouraged to continue to gain university degrees despite the increased competition that has lowered the benefits that earlier graduates enjoyed (Tumin, 1994). Arguments for continuing to encourage people to gain University Degree There are various arguments for and against continuing to encourage people to gain university degrees. I hold the opinion that students should be encouraged to continue to gain university degrees despite the increased competition that has lowered the benefit that earlier graduates enjoyed. Notably the issue regarding whether students should continue to gain university degrees is a mere reflection of the challenges that has faced many degree finalists. It is noted that life is a choice, and often the students as well as parents undertake to enroll students for degree programs despite the challenges involved for various reasons. The following arguments forms part of the broader reasons that compels students and parents to give tertiary education a priority despite the delay of benefits that has characterized today’s education system. The following arguments may be basis against which people should be encouraged to gain university degree. First, more students should embrace tertiary education regardless of the increased competition among the unemployed who seek employed in the limited vacant positions. This is because tertiary education may not give one instant benefits with regard to high pay and good employment opportunities, but instead it secures ones future. Finalists of degree courses are assured of better future through the course opening up their minds to engage in other economic activities as entrepreneurs. Additionally, this education secures their future with regard to the acquisition of skills and knowledge that cannot be grabbed from them, as opposed to material resources that may fade with time or with committing mistakes in decision making. There is still a lot of security that is tagged to tertiary education for the degree finalists are assured to get better jobs. The prevailing harsh labor market may hinder the degree finalists from instant benefits but at least they have an assurance of a better future in the days to come. Secondly, there are relative benefits that college undergraduate students get as compared to those who are high school graduates. As much as it is acknowledged that competition rises as one advances their studies in most developing countries where education is prioritized; the level of pay that degrees get as compared to other lower qualification still makes it wise for one to study for a degree. One may stay for long without employment on completion of the degree however when employed, they may be subjected to relatively higher pay as compared to other lower qualifications (Fabbris, 2007). The students should enroll for degree programs for it is not just for their earnings, but it makes them all rounded. Important to note is that tertiary education at degree level is not just for the returns that one gets after completing the studies but for long term benefits to the students. Increased number of students who have enrolled to these programs has led to high output of students who go to the market to seek employment. This has affected the rate of absorption of the university graduates into employment; however this has not affected the ability of the student with regard to being all rounded at completion of their studies. The finalists of degree programs are all rounded adults because the degree course leads them to understanding the world around them, and this makes them all round citizens thus they are fit to any given society or setting. It is important for the learners to enroll for degree programs so that they can be trained to be all round with regard to living any place, attending to the different needs of the society and being productive amidst the challenges of the world. Upon completion of tertiary education a student is more al rounded through having the ability to communicate well, to use knowledge, and to positively influence the wider community (Holsworth, 2010). In addition, it is important for students to seek more tertiary education, for this education makes them to be led by a better value system and are more healthier. Research has revealed a direct relationship between ones value system and health levels with ones level of education. Degree graduates have been found to live a healthier life and live acceptable values. Therefore, more students should enroll for degree so that there mindset and character is built for them to fit in the wider society. It is also important for students to enroll for tertiary education because it is this kind of education that gives them room to identify ones area of talent and gifting. Most degree courses would open up the mind of the learners to specialize in the different areas such as being an inventor, innovator, inventor, or artist. Therefore degree finalist is at a better position to specialize on an activity with an informed mind (Pugsley, 2004). Arguments against continuing to encourage people to gain University Degree There are various arguments against encouraging students to gain degrees due to the changing times. As much the importance of education cannot be overruled with anything. However, there are several arguments that points out the need for students not to seek tertiary education. The reasons comprises of those caused by the nature of the current degree programs, as well as those that arises of the nature of today’s competitive society, which has limited job placements that are not congruent to the increased number of graduates from the universities (Adamu, 1999). Today’s degree courses are more theorized. This has made many employers to have less preference for graduates who are taught so many theoretical subjects that may not be easily applicable in the working context of the organization. It may be necessary for the student to seek more practical oriented courses that may necessarily not be degree programs. Students who have learn some practical courses such as mechanic may at times have an advantage over the degree program. This may be case against which students should be encouraged to go and study other learning programs that are more practical oriented as opposed to the many degree programmes that are theoretical in nature (Tappan, 1994). Limited working opportunities for degree graduates may act as key reason why it may not be necessary for one to be encouraged to gain a degree. We have so many graduates who have completed their courses and cannot be able to secure even part time jobs. This has become a great challenge to these economies as well as to the graduates. To avoid cases changing from bad to worse than more students should not be encouraged to enroll for degree courses in which they cannot get employment on completion of their courses. The challenges of having may skilled professionals who are unemployed in an economy are many. Therefore students should not be encouraged to go and study this program. Increased number of irrelevant degree programs may again be a basis against which students should not be encouraged to enroll for degree courses. Today, we have hundreds of new degree programs that have been introduced in many universities across the globe. Even as we acknowledge that times have changed and this comes with new demands with regard to training courses; there has been a lot of commercialization of many universities which has led many courses to be split to smaller courses that sometimes makes a graduate crippled with regard to offering particular services to the society. Many courses that are irrelevant has diluted the scope of skills that many degree graduates would be proud to posses. Therefore, many students should not be encouraged to enroll to these kinds of degree courses, for it may not be useful to the society and for ones career development (Cradock, 2008). Today’s closed up capitalistic society may again act as a key reason why enrolling for a degree course may not be adequate enough for ones success in life. In the capitalistic society, business investment has been viewed to have more rewards as opposed to just intellectual knowledge that one has. Today’s capitalistic world has applauded the importance of having more money as opposed to more education. Successful business people who may have little academic knowledge have access to a better lifestyle as they use the graduates to manage their business. The degree finalists who are employed in this companies act as ‘tools’ for attainment of the goals of the organizations owned by the people in business class. Therefore it better for one to invest in business as early as one could as opposed to enrolling for tertiary education (Feingold, 2007). My Opinion on Gaining University Degree All in all, looking at the reasons for or against encouraging a student to gain degrees, my opinion is that regardless of the many challenges that degree has, it has strongly remained to offer security for a better life tomorrow for the graduates. I would still enroll my child to tertiary education degree course, so that he/she can gain skills that will help him/her to live a better life in the years to come. I still feel it is necessary for the people to gain degrees; it may not bring instant benefits but is important for the future life of a person. Conclusion In conclusion, we have seen from the paper that there many challenges in the market place that has made many degree programs to have lesser benefits as opposed to the days before. However, there are still key benefits that degree holders have over those without it. In this paper, I still find it necessary for students to be encouraged to undertake tertiary education for the betterment of their own future. In addition, the world has transformed from subsistence living to industrial age and now the information technology which requires individuals who are informed. Many students who previously enrolled to degree programs in the past have benefited from getting instant career opportunities at completion of their learning programs. The rising costs of tuition verses the scarce career opportunities to degree finalists may be a matter of concern, however some economies have been consistent in offering working opportunities for degree finalists, which has acted as a motivation for more students to enroll for degree courses offered. Having said all, I hold the opinion that it is important for students, parents and other stakeholders to encourage students to enroll for degree courses. References Feingold, M. (2007). History of Universities, Volume XXII/1. London: Oxford University Press. Cradock, B. (2008). The Westminster review, Volume 132. London: The University of Michigan. Tappan, H. (1994). University education. New York: SAGE Publishers. Adamu, M. (1999). University education: its standard and relevance to the Nigerian community. New York: M.I.S. Press. Fabbris, L. (2007). Effectiveness of university education in Italy: employability, competences, human capital. London: Springer. Holsworth, D. (2010). The indispensable university: higher education, economic development, and the knowledge economy. New York: R&L Education. Tumin, M. (1994). Education: social class, and intergroup attitudes in England, France, and Germany. London: Princeton University. OECD (2005). University education in Denmark. London: OECD Publishing. Steiner, B. (2004). The History Of University Education In Maryland. New York: Kessinger Publishing. Pugsley, L. (2004). The university challenge: higher education markets and social stratification. New York: Ashgate Publishing. Read More

Finalists of degree courses are assured of better future through the course opening up their minds to engage in other economic activities as entrepreneurs. Additionally, this education secures their future with regard to the acquisition of skills and knowledge that cannot be grabbed from them, as opposed to material resources that may fade with time or with committing mistakes in decision making. There is still a lot of security that is tagged to tertiary education for the degree finalists are assured to get better jobs.

The prevailing harsh labor market may hinder the degree finalists from instant benefits but at least they have an assurance of a better future in the days to come. Secondly, there are relative benefits that college undergraduate students get as compared to those who are high school graduates. As much as it is acknowledged that competition rises as one advances their studies in most developing countries where education is prioritized; the level of pay that degrees get as compared to other lower qualification still makes it wise for one to study for a degree.

One may stay for long without employment on completion of the degree however when employed, they may be subjected to relatively higher pay as compared to other lower qualifications (Fabbris, 2007). The students should enroll for degree programs for it is not just for their earnings, but it makes them all rounded. Important to note is that tertiary education at degree level is not just for the returns that one gets after completing the studies but for long term benefits to the students. Increased number of students who have enrolled to these programs has led to high output of students who go to the market to seek employment.

This has affected the rate of absorption of the university graduates into employment; however this has not affected the ability of the student with regard to being all rounded at completion of their studies. The finalists of degree programs are all rounded adults because the degree course leads them to understanding the world around them, and this makes them all round citizens thus they are fit to any given society or setting. It is important for the learners to enroll for degree programs so that they can be trained to be all round with regard to living any place, attending to the different needs of the society and being productive amidst the challenges of the world.

Upon completion of tertiary education a student is more al rounded through having the ability to communicate well, to use knowledge, and to positively influence the wider community (Holsworth, 2010). In addition, it is important for students to seek more tertiary education, for this education makes them to be led by a better value system and are more healthier. Research has revealed a direct relationship between ones value system and health levels with ones level of education. Degree graduates have been found to live a healthier life and live acceptable values.

Therefore, more students should enroll for degree so that there mindset and character is built for them to fit in the wider society. It is also important for students to enroll for tertiary education because it is this kind of education that gives them room to identify ones area of talent and gifting. Most degree courses would open up the mind of the learners to specialize in the different areas such as being an inventor, innovator, inventor, or artist. Therefore degree finalist is at a better position to specialize on an activity with an informed mind (Pugsley, 2004).

Arguments against continuing to encourage people to gain University Degree There are various arguments against encouraging students to gain degrees due to the changing times. As much the importance of education cannot be overruled with anything. However, there are several arguments that points out the need for students not to seek tertiary education. The reasons comprises of those caused by the nature of the current degree programs, as well as those that arises of the nature of today’s competitive society, which has limited job placements that are not congruent to the increased number of graduates from the universities (Adamu, 1999).

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