The education debate

[rory_20_uk]

I think that getting sponsorship should be the normal route. It would help employment post-degree, would help people choose something that was both useful and they could do for 3-4 years; if would also force people to think if they really wanted to do one in the first place.

Of course some courses would be better sponsored than others. But then some courses are more useful than others. If you want to do a very obscure degree, either self fund or sell the subject to a prospective employer - or just do something else and have it as an interest.

Government scolarships could also be there for the best of the best to do theoretical research for a fixed period of time.

As to a percentage, this is clearly nonsensical. It should fluctuate according to demands in the system.

[gaelic cowboy]

I think that getting sponsorship should be the normal route.

It should be possible but not the only way imagine a world where al the toffs with all there connections could ensure all there kids got sponsored while johnny come late from a council estate even though well able to pass exams ends up on the dole instead.

A mix of funding and routes into college is the best way it cuts out the canvassing on behalf of the "Right Sort Of People".

Of course some courses would be better sponsored than others. But then some courses are more useful than others. If you want to do a very obscure degree, either self fund or sell the subject to a prospective employer - or just do something else and have it as an interest.

Yes and no to this while some course are more useful we should avoid a strict utilitarian view of education if you trying to build the next intel or some medical research company you would be surprised how much cross discipline areas need to be covered.

While the Arts may seem less important it still has things to offer to engineering and a whole host of courses. Say your a designer making a new product having a pool of knowledge on the more artistic side of things may be required for the engineer's design.

Having a broader view helps when you try to gather several seemingly incompatible areas in my own experience I have come across doctors who had to come to seminars on bone mechanics and specifcally the cutting of bone however we were doing mechanical engineering not medcine