Peter Moore: A degree is more than just career training

Rishi Sunak has proposed cutting “Mickey Mouse” degrees and increasing the number of apprenticeships. If we only judge degrees by how much money graduates make then economics is a far better degree than nursing or teaching. Are there really “Mickey Mouse” degrees which are easy but useless?

There are two broad types of degree, purely academic and vocational. Veterinary medicine, engineering, dentistry and medicine are all designed to give students specific skills for their future career. Some degrees such as philosophy, sociology and politics provide a wider education.  But many skills learnt at university can be transferable. A law degree can be a basic training for a potential lawyer but is also useful in other areas.  Even a medical degree does not necessarily lead to a career as a doctor. Adam Kay who wrote “This is going to hurt” is now a successful writer and comedian. Graham Chapman of Monty Python, Phil Hammond, Harry Hill and Graham Garden were all doctors who became comedians.  Jo Mercurio, who amongst many other achievements, wrote “Line of Duty” and the recent “Breathtaking”, was a doctor. The Russian writer, Chekhov, and British writer, Somerset Maugham were both doctors.   It is even possible to become an expert quizzer such as Paul Sinha.
Einstein was quoted as saying “education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school”.   Today we should add “she” and university as well as school.

Perhaps I am being naïve but university should do more than cram facts. It should give students the ability to debate and analyse data. I find it worrying that some universities encourage “no platforming” and have trigger warnings on issues they find hard. One of the strengths of a university education should be the ability to listen and debate with people you disagree.
During my student days I took on an extra year to study for a degree in biochemistry. Anything I learnt about biochemistry fifty years ago is totally out of date but I did spend a year designing and working on my own very modest research. I learnt how to critically analyse research papers and the pitfalls in designing research programmes. Most of medical school training was spent learning facts. In the biochemistry degree I developed a whole new skill which has been useful throughout my career.

The term “Mickey Mouse” degree was coined by Margaret Hodge when she was the Minister of State for Universities.  She defined a Mickey Mouse degree as one where the content is “perhaps not as rigorous as one would expect and where the degree itself may not have huge relevance in the labour market”.

The subject may not be important if, as Einstein said, the facts will be forgotten but her comment “not as rigorous” matters. In the academic year 2021-2022 nearly 40% of school leavers went to university. 32% passed with first-class honours, double the number ten years earlier. Over half get a first or upper second. In the early 1960s 4% of students went to university and only a third of students managed a first or upper second. Are the present university students really far more intelligent than my generation?

The problem with too many firsts and upper seconds is that it gives potential employers a problem. Is this candidate with a first really a highflyer or just very good? We also face a problem when half the school leavers go to university. Where are our future trades people, electricians, carpenters and plumbers? Unfortunately, there is some snobbery here. Going to university has a higher status than the skills of trades people but, if we are going to help the housing crisis, we need skilled workers which is why we need high quality apprenticeships.

To the next generation of university students I would say enjoy your time, work hard and train your brain to think. A university education should be more than just training for a career.