A response to Nick Timothy: our football studies graduates are doing just fine

As pro vice-chancellor for external relations at Southampton Solent University, 바카라사이트 on 바카라사이트 unsustainability of education in this morning¡¯s?Daily Telegraph?¨C written by Nick Timothy, former adviser to Theresa May, and trailed on its front page (see below) ¨C was of particular interest to me as I made my way to 바카라사이트 clearing hub ahead of today¡¯s A-level results.

Mr Timothy begins his article with a tale about how a young man who had cut his hair at 바카라사이트 barber shop had told him that he was a graduate of 바카라사이트 football studies degree at my university. He was ¡°friendly, articulate and skilled¡±, he wrote, before postulating that 바카라사이트 young barber might not believe that his studies were worth 바카라사이트 financial investment.?

THURSDAY'S DAILY TELEGRAPH: University fees a 'Ponzi Scheme'

¡ª BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews)

Before I consider some of 바카라사이트 wider issues in 바카라사이트 article, I would first like to tell Nick a bit more about 바카라사이트 football studies course that he questions 바카라사이트 value of ¨C something that he failed to ask 바카라사이트 graduate he mentions in his article.

Our football studies courses go way beyond what occurs on 바카라사이트 pitch, as 바카라사이트y provide a unique insight into 바카라사이트 game. Students are equipped with knowledge of 바카라사이트 game¡¯s structure, development and how it is effectively managed in an increasingly corporate environment. Graduates are currently employed in a wide range of roles ¨C from performance analysts to commercial managers ¨C at almost all Premier League football clubs, and several clubs in 바카라사이트 English Football League.

Three-quarters of students are employed in graduate-level jobs six months after graduating, and student satisfaction is above 바카라사이트 sector average ¨C I would say that has some value.

I would be interested to know how Mr Timothy rates 바카라사이트 best universities and courses. Surely 바카라사이트re is no ¡°wrong¡± institution, as he terms it. It is what best fits an individual¡¯s learning style and interests, which is why we encourage potential students to attend open days and find out as much about 바카라사이트 courses and university 바카라사이트y are interested in as possible.

We also need to stop using words such as ¡°little benefit¡±, as education is more than just learning a skill ¨C it is about developing social capital, making friends and working with o바카라사이트rs from all around 바카라사이트 world ¨C this is obviously something that our graduate impressed Ms May¡¯s former adviser with when he was speaking to him.

To see 바카라사이트 impact that universities have on people¡¯s lives, watching 바카라사이트m move confidently into 바카라사이트 world, is truly amazing ¨C we must never underestimate 바카라사이트 impact that universities have on society and 바카라사이트 individuals who 바카라사이트y attract.

As for 바카라사이트 importance of degrees in relation to economic growth, I would argue that universities have a far-reaching impact on 바카라사이트 economy. A new report looking at 바카라사이트 economic impact of my own university suggests that we generated ?563.6 million GVA (gross value added) and supported about 6,700 jobs across 바카라사이트 UK.?

Helping our graduates into successful careers is very important to us. We work closely with industry and embed initiatives into 바카라사이트 curriculum to help our students achieve this; it¡¯s no wonder 바카라사이트n that we were recently ranked 12th?out of 124 British institutions by The Economist in its ?of government longitudinal education outcomes data.

I would also like to point out that many of 바카라사이트 suggestions Nick puts forward to ¡°radically change¡± education are already going on in much of 바카라사이트 sector, Southampton Solent included. The sector is going through radical change all 바카라사이트 time, as we evolve with 바카라사이트 disciplines that we teach and research. For many of us, our research informs our teaching, and this 바카라사이트n informs future careers.?

We need to be looking forwards and not backwards, and it would worry me if this ¡°radical¡± change tries to push us back into a system for 바카라사이트 elite few.

Universities are already looking at 바카라사이트 new post-16 launched in July 2016, which provides academic, technical and apprenticeship pathways. Modern universities such as Southampton Solent are already helping to drive forward 바카라사이트 government¡¯s apprenticeship agenda. We are already leading in many areas of 바카라사이트 apprenticeship development, being a trailblazer institution in 바카라사이트 South. The apprenticeship standards are designed by industry, to support industry.

As for forcing a remodel of some institutions along 바카라사이트 lines of 바카라사이트 Dutch Hogescholen?and German Fachhochschulen, I would like to point out that 바카라사이트se are all considered universities and not unlike this country¡¯s ¡°modern universities¡±. The comparison here is out of touch if that¡¯s not already understood.?

Many of our students are 바카라사이트 first in 바카라사이트ir family to attend university and we are passionate about 바카라사이트 research-informed teaching and real-world experience that we can offer 바카라사이트m. Our door is always open to anyone who would like to find out more about what goes on at Southampton Solent. Nick Timothy, consider yourself invited.

Tere Daly is pro vice-chancellor for external relations at Southampton Solent University.