Hands-on skills give graduates the edge
20 July 2010
The higher education system is once again in the spotlight. Schoolchildren with the right qualifications seem unable to get onto the courses they want due to over-subscription.
But are these always the right courses anyway?
Electronics design is a very technical subject and there can be no substitute for hours of intellectual graft if the student is going to master the subject. However, a report that was brought to my attention earlier this week stirred my long-held belief that an element of ‘hands-on’ can be as instructive as many hours in a lecture theatre.
I am a member of the old school who thinks that the ‘upgrading’ of polytechnics to university status was a mistake. The sandwich courses offered by the poly’s were of far greater use than a purely academic degree in many cases. I remember in my days as an electronics student being dumped in the back of a factory in Livingston with some specs and an RS catalogue and told to make a power supply. This was far more instructive than many of the lectures I sat through.
The new report from City & Guilds ‘The Skills Economy’, explores the attitudes of over 1,200 UK employers about skills, business and the economy. Almost two thirds of employers (63%) argue that work-related education and training will play a vital role in the UK’s economic recovery. Here are some of the other findings in the survey...
It reveals that businesses see skills as a top priority for supporting the country’s future prosperity. Nine out of ten employers view vocationally trained staff as vital to the success of their business, and two-thirds (65%) of all employers claim that vocational education delivers the practical skills essential for today’s economy.
Business managers argue that practical work experience is more valuable than academic study, with specialist industry skills offering immediate advantages in the workplace over a university education. A significant 60% of employers believe that the biggest benefit of people with vocational qualifications over graduates is that they already have the skills and experience to work for their business from day one.
A further two-fifths (42%) of bosses currently without vocationally qualified staff also acknowledge that they are as well-qualified for positions at their company as graduates without vocational training.
There is general recognition that skilled workers give businesses a competitive edge, both on an industry and international level. Around seven out of ten employers believe that their vocationally qualified employees make them more competitive in their industry, whilst nearly three quarters (74%) of all employers agree that work-related skills are vital to ensure the UK can compete in the changing global economy.
The future is bright for skilled workers as seven in ten (67%) employers rely on their vocationally trained staff to give them the skills they need for the future.
Personally I think there is a danger of being a bit too sniffy about City and Guilds qualifications. The perception that they are aimed solely at plumbers and electricians is out of date. There are a host of courses and modules that filter into the world of electronics. A big problem at the moment is not just electronics graduates can not find jobs. A further problem, as highlighted at the beginning of this comment is that some school-leavers cannot even get the university places they want.
In such a competitive market place (at both stages) other factors come in to play. I do some work with young people and constantly encourage them to do some sort of project or community work, Duke of Edinburgh schemes, or voluntary work experience, just to give them an edge when it comes to applying for jobs – when faced with an endless supply of similarly qualified applicants employers look for something else.
What could be better than using C&G schemes to give existing and potential electronics design students some real experience in the work place and a meaningful entry on their CVs?
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