STARMER OUT....

[JBR]

You're quite right.  I'm sure that these days universities (and polys, if we still have any) are in it for only two reasons:
- the good reason is for research and hoping to find scientific (usually) improvements;
- the bad reason is to make money to keep some of the non productive lecturers in a job.

If I had my way, the total number of university admissions in this country would relate to what the country really needs.  That would involve the output of experts in science, technology, finance, etc.  Things that we really need expertise in.
Things that we really need could be financed by the state.  The rest, you pay for yourself.

[Ashy]

Polytechnics were renamed universities under Blair. The difference is that they moderate their own degrees.

[GrannyMac]

In the past it was possible to go to university without having to pay for it.  Simply possessing the appropriate number of A-level opened the door.  Of course, young people would be supported by their parents regarding food, etc., but I remember the time that you didn't have to pay the university.

The other thing to think about is which sort of degree one should follow.  I believe that some of them don't lead directly to a job, and one should decide beforehand where they want to work and which particular degree could open the necessary doors.

I'm sure that your granddaughter is already aware of that and has planned where she'd like to go in life.  I wish her all the best.

Thanks JBR. Maths, at Durham.  She'll be fine.