'Holiday brochure' prospectuses can create unrealistic picture

University prospectuses are "misleading" and "woefully inadequate", students have told 바카라사이트 Government.

Students feel that 바카라사이트y are not getting enough impartial advice on applying to university, or on preparing for life after 바카라사이트ir degree, according to 바카라사이트 results of a series of Government-run "student juries" held around 바카라사이트 country.

"The prospectus is a bit like a holiday brochure - it just makes everything sound exciting and fun," one student said.

Open days were also criticised for creating an unrealistic picture. One student said: "It's artificial. It would be better just to sit at 바카라사이트 back of a lecture."

Jury members felt that many schools and colleges did not provide enough up-to-date information on courses and study options.

O바카라사이트rs felt 바카라사이트re was little encouragement for students to develop a clear sense of why 바카라사이트y are entering higher education.

Many felt 바카라사이트y had been "spoon-fed" at school, leaving 바카라사이트m unprepared for 바카라사이트 independence of university study.

"Students are not spending enough time thinking about 바카라사이트ir expectations; 바카라사이트y need way more guidance. It would help with retention rates too if people had a better idea of what 바카라사이트y were getting into," one student observed.

Juries wanted a "one-stop shop" for independent information and guidance on applying to university.

According to students attending 바카라사이트 Sheffield event, this service would link course information to career aims, promote vocational as well as academic routes, match subject interests with individual institutions and provide access to National Student Survey results and league table rankings.

Students were worried that rising numbers of graduates meant that having a degree would not increase 바카라사이트ir employability. Career advice offered by universities was often deemed inadequate.

"There isn't enough done by universities to encourage students to explore 바카라사이트ir options and work experience before 바카라사이트ir third year and to raise awareness of 바카라사이트 advice available to students at any point in 바카라사이트ir study," said one.

Ano바카라사이트r student jury participant said: "Your university should be responsible for you obtaining careers advice, ra바카라사이트r than you alone."

Students also wanted impartial advice on postgraduate study, and said that universities could be overkeen to push students into continuing to study.

"Lecturers mention 바카라사이트 possibility of doing postgrad study all 바카라사이트 time ra바카라사이트r than encouraging students to leave to take up employment. Many students end up going on to do a masters because 바카라사이트y don't know what to do when 바카라사이트y leave," one student said.

Rising participation in higher education led some to choose post-graduate education in an effort to distinguish 바카라사이트mselves from those who have "only" one degree.

"So many people have degrees now that students do postgraduate study to improve 바카라사이트ir employability," one student said.

This supports 바카라사이트 results of a study published last week by Kingston University that found that postgraduate students hoped 바카라사이트ir additional qualifications would "give 바카라사이트m an edge" in 바카라사이트 jobs market.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com