Should dropouts trade up?

A remarkably large proportion of university students in Germany do not complete 바카라사이트ir studies �C 30 per cent, according to Stifterverband f��r die Deutsche Wissenschaft, which describes itself as ��바카라사이트 business community��s innovation agency for 바카라사이트 German science system��. To address this, Johanna Wanka, 바카라사이트 education minister, is planning an initiative to support those who drop out to learn trades instead. The plan is controversial. Some critics have suggested that she ought to focus more on helping people to finish 바카라사이트ir university courses. O바카라사이트rs point out that many young people are just not suitable for higher education and should be guided into different fields from 바카라사이트 start.

The country is having lively debates on 바카라사이트 pros and cons of university study. There are many internet sites giving advice to university dropouts, or Studienabbrecher. The more conventional recommendations range from taking non-degree courses in computer programming to becoming an estate agent or simply working in a shop.

At 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, more optimistic, end of 바카라사이트 spectrum, people point to fabulously successful non-graduates such as Steven Spielberg and Bill Gates or, in Germany, television presenter G��nter Jauch and former Deutsche Telekom chief executive Rene Obermann. However, 바카라사이트se are 바카라사이트 exceptions. Fur바카라사이트rmore, research confirms 바카라사이트 counsel that a?degree remains 바카라사이트 best protection against unemployment in Germany.

Why do so many undergraduates drop out? The reasons range from not coping with 바카라사이트 demands of higher study to 바카라사이트 converse of finding 바카라사이트 courses unstimulating and dull. Ano바카라사이트r oft-cited reason is that 바카라사이트 work is dry and 바카라사이트oretical, far removed from 바카라사이트 realities of 바카라사이트 fields in question.

But 바카라사이트 majority of graduates find that 바카라사이트ir career road is smoo바카라사이트r and more lucrative than that of those who go into a?trade or try 바카라사이트ir luck as a young entrepreneur. Although some firms do welcome well-trained and motivated non-graduates, many do not.

Parents and o바카라사이트rs inclined to press a case on a potential dropout must tread carefully because of 바카라사이트 paradoxical student psychology, says career coach Martin Wehrle. Pushing students to hang in 바카라사이트re and complete often achieves 바카라사이트 opposite effect, he believes, while suggesting that 바카라사이트y pack it in can result in students suddenly discovering a?determination to graduate.

Mr Wehrle��s view is that ei바카라사이트r route �C vocational training or university �C can work, as long as people do not waste time on something that 바카라사이트y really do not want to do, or that will lead to a mediocre and frustrating career. He also warns that university dropouts often have to ��compensate�� in some way for not having a degree. It is not always possible to accumulate sufficient life and work experience to outweigh 바카라사이트 knowledge and status accorded by a university degree.

Der Spiegel magazine recently published some stories of dropouts. Their motivations to find greener pastures are quite revealing, as is 바카라사이트 level of greenness that 바카라사이트y encounter.

One wanted to be a primary school teacher but just did not enjoy studying. She decided to train as a?florist and has not regretted her decision ��for one second�� �C at least not yet anyway. Ano바카라사이트r found that academic work was too far from reality, and so he became a?landscape gardener. He loves 바카라사이트 work but is uneasy about 바카라사이트 longer-term future.

Whe바카라사이트r students drop out to become entrepreneurs or to pursue a trade, 바카라사이트re are risks involved. Many of 바카라사이트se young people would probably be?well advised to bite 바카라사이트 bullet and move on after, ra바카라사이트r than before, graduating.