Ed Caesar wrote an article for the Sunday Times Magazine a couple of months ago entitled ‘Nice Little Learners’. In it he posed the question – which subject will get you the best job? A: English Literature or B: Golf Studies. As this blog has already suggested the conventionality of our current education system would lead students to English Literature every time, dismissing the latter as a ‘mickey mouse’ degree. Nevertheless, Caesar goes on to document the careers of some of the recipients of these so called ‘mickey mouse’ degrees.
Lucinda Davies, a 24 year old who graduated with a 2:1 in Golf Management Studies from the University of Birmingham, was poached by a resort in Egypt before she had even completed her studies. She is now back in England working as a coach and club pro. However, her ambitions stretch further. One day she would love to run the PGA tour.
Mhairi Mc Donald graduated from Heriot-Watt University in Edingburgh in 2007 with a first-class Msc in Brewing and Distilling. Not only is every person in her year employed but she has her “dream job” in brand development for Glenglassaugh Distillery in Aberdeenshire. Others qualify from courses such as; Stained-glass Studies, Surfing Studies and Computer-games Programming. Many arrive at college with three As at A-level. Proving that these graduates are not only academically intelligent, but are creatively intelligent too.
In a time when 40,000 young people graduating this year will be out of work students need to think more creatively about what kind of returns they are going to get from their qualifications.
I think this idea of "mickey mouse" courses is so archaic.Many of our parents and their generation before them deemed anything out of the ordinary as "mickey mouse".Every parent wanted their kid to be a nurse, garda, teacher etc.. I think that the person that is passionate about a course regardless of its title, is better off than the person who does the "safe option" and hates it. Students should be encouraged to do courses that they're passionate about because if they don't like the course,then what's the point?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Caroline... at the end of the day you are going to be in your chosen career for the guts of 40 years... may as well do something that you enjoy and are passionate about. I have a relative who studied medicine for 7 years and at the end of it wasn't 100% sure if she wanted to practice it. Her mother pushed her down that route and it seems that she was living her ambition through her daughter!
ReplyDeleteEvelyn
Thanks girls. Sorry to hear that about your cousin Evelyn. Prestige and conventionality do not equate to fulfilment. It's a shame people aren't more open-minded when it comes to career options.
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