Quote:
Originally Posted by RobinMask
Since someone's revived this thread I might as well reply to it, lol.
The cost of university is extortiant, especially in the UK where you can now be paying up to £9k a year, or a lot more if you're an international student, and that isn't including accomodation, food, books, travel and so forth. I do still maintain that it's possible for anyone and everyone to receive an education, regardless of monetary funds and economic background. I - for many reasons - had to do my university degree through distance learning, but because I'm a fulll-time student I don't work, so I have no income, and my uni is kind enough to waive fees for students in this case, in fact I even received help for books and equipment. If a student knows where to look and plans correctly then they can still get an education, even if it's not the exact one they may have liked.
I think home-study is more difficult. It gets lonely at times, because half my friends work full-time and the other half are away at brick-and-mortar universities, so I'm more often than not alone. I think in some respects it can be better. It enables a student to organise their timetable to suit their life, encourages independent study, allows for more concentration, and so forth. There is a lack of social interaction and independence, because one isn't living alone or meeting new people, but at the same time - for some - the pros far outweigh the cons. Less debts, more free time, closer to family, easier to concentrate, easier to revise . . .
The downside is - like you said - there are no jobs. I literally can't work in the UK. If I was to be a teacher here I'd need to go into debt to spend an extra year at university (the government/uni won't offer support for anything other than the first degree), then move to some obscure part of the country in hopes of finding a vacancy, and all for tuppence of a wage. I'm lucky that I want to work abroad. I earn exactly the same as I would in the UK, and I get an apartment found for me and key-money/deposits paid for, and I don't have to go into debt and spend an extra year finding a job. I have several relatives who've emmegrated, and a few friends who wish to, and I can't blame any of them. Graduates have it tough. There just isn't any jobs going in this current climate.
Sorry I can't answer many of the other questions, especially concerning Japan in specific, but other members have more eloquently and kindly offered good answers anyway. I will say though that I think - in this day and age - if one wants a good job in their hometown then it may be best looking at apprenticeships or NVQ's, because - depending on the individual's needs - it may not be in their best interests to get a degree.
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I find your thoughts fascinating Robin. Is it truly so difficult to obtain work in the UK with your degree?
Young people are urged to get to UNI- in order to educate themselves and presumably that should give them a huge advantage over those who have Not had University education. It appears Not so.
I do wonder if it is the subject that they choose to study that may not be a great deal of use in the outside world-- with all the competition out there.
Many seem to study Media studies, IT, etc whereas possibly there is need for physicists, scientists, engineers etc.
Our manufacturing facilities are almost extinct in this country-- that is So bad.
I believe one has to read the newspapers that advertise jobs to try to fathom what would be a good subject to study in order to obtain well paid work after Graduation.
I admire you for studying at home, but it must have been very difficult and lonely for you.
Would that be Open University? I imagine there is so much more to be gained from being in a University where there are hundreds of other students, possibly many from abroad-- so expanding ones experience, living among them all and learning a great deal at the same time.
I wish our government would encourage more and enable those who have monetary difficulties.
Our politicians did not have to pay for their time at University.
Learning on the job used to be a good way to learn.