A degree is important these days

Missive to the independent in response to this : http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/higher/a-reject-reports-im-glad-i-didnt-go-to-university-2340102.html

Sirs,

Like Lisa Markwell, I did not go to university. I joined ICI in 1977 straight from school and have just recently taken early retirement from the company having worked as a computer programmer for them for over 30 very happy years.

But things were different back then. Companies trained-up young employees, company cultures and attitudes were very different, and there were more opportunities.

Few of these exist any more. The idea of a 30+ year career, the idea of on-the-job training, even ICI itself all no longer exist.

A degree is now the only way of demonstrating to companies in this harsh and cut-throat employment environment that an individual is even worth looking at. Not getting one is not the end of the world, but it is a setback.

Paul Harper

… and they printed it, with the usual tweaks

… Then it was nicked by the Belfast Telegraph :