Response - Isobel on Tertiary Education
Izzy from North London believes that tertiary education in the UK needs several changes. Firstly, university education should be made free to address barriers to access. Secondly, entry requirements should be reassessed to include important qualities beyond academic achievements. Lastly, there should be a focus on holistic personal and professional development, not just job placement.
Themes
- Free university education
- Barriers to access
- Reassessment of entry requirements
- Holistic personal and professional development
- Focus beyond job placement
Keywords
- North London
- tertiary education
- UK
- university education
- free
- access
- barriers
- entry requirements
- personal and professional development
Transcription
Hi, my name is Izzy and I live in North London. I believe there are several changes that should be made to tertiary education in the UK.
Firstly, university education should be made free, not just free at the point of access. While UK universities are renowned globally, there are still many barriers preventing equal access. The current system deepens class divides and does not create a fair and equal society. Free point of access is not enough, as students from private schools who have been paying high fees for their education see the cost of university as a bargain. On the other hand, students from lower-income families are faced with overwhelming debt, which can deter them from pursuing higher education.
Secondly, we need to reassess how university places are allocated and the entry requirements. Currently, there is a focus on high academic achievements, which may exclude individuals who possess valuable qualities, such as empathy, people skills, and listening abilities, that make great doctors or nurses. Entry requirements should take into consideration a more holistic approach to evaluating applicants' potential.
Lastly, there should be a stronger emphasis on personal and professional development that takes into account the holistic needs of students, including mental health support. Universities should not solely be job factories that measure success based on the number of graduates employed shortly after graduation. A more well-rounded approach to education is necessary.
Overall, these changes would promote greater access to education, fairness, and a more comprehensive approach to preparing students for their futures.
Isobel
Izzy's own notes: I am currently a Fellow at Year Here, a platform for professionals to test and build entrepreneurial responses to inequality, based in London. I hold an MSc in Human Rights with a focus on conflict, peace and security in the Middle East from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). My postgraduate thesis was titled: 'Privatising Occupation: Reconceptualising the Role of Private Security Contractors in the Occupied Palestinian Territories', which was awarded with Distinction. Prior to completing my BA from Durham University in International Relations, I studied Global Politics at Rønningen Følkhøgskole in Oslo. I’m an excellent verbal and written communicator, proven leader, results-driven and detail-oriented project manager with a keen passion for and advanced expertise in Middle East politics and international human rights. In addition to my fluent Norwegian skills, I’m currently undertaking lessons in Levantine Arabic. I am an Amateur B
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