A prominent university principal and soon-to-be convener of Universities Scotland has slammed politicians and commentators for “luddite” claims that there are too many graduates.

 

Following a survey by the Association of Graduate Recruiters this week that revealed that every graduate vacancy this year is attracting an average of 69 applications, compared with 49 last year, Professor Bernard King hit out at those arguing that public funding should be diverted away from universities and into vocational training such as apprenticeships.

 

The University of Abertay Dundee principal condemned such arguments as “short-sighted” and “deceiving”, claiming more apprenticeships would “never allow Britain to compete with such low-wage economies as China, India and South America, unless we are prepared to become a low-wage economy ourselves.”

 

Speaking to new graduates at the Abertay graduation ceremony today King said: “Some of you might have heard claims from some politicians and commentators that there are “too many graduates”, and that we should, instead, be concentrating on investing scarce public resources on more apprenticeships for sub-degree-level trades and craft skills.

 

“The workforce for the future needs more, not less, investment in higher-level skills at first degree and postgraduate levels.  To say, in a technologically sophisticated, urbanised and thus socially fragile world, that there is “too much higher education” is short-sighted, deceiving and Luddite.”

 

The principal acknowledged the severe public sector cuts coming forward but made the case for continued investment in higher education as essential for economic recovery.  

 

“University education is now a necessity:  expensive but absolutely essential for a nation wishing to survive and prosper in the modern world.  And in that world, investment in universities is growing – particularly in the emerging economies of China, India and South America,” he said.

 

“Closer to home, even economies who endured the financial storms alongside Britain, such as Germany and France, are investing more, not less, in their universities as a strategy to climb out of recession.

 

“Cutting investment in our universities risks seriously damaging a key component of the Scottish economy.”

 

King takes over the position of convener at Universities Scotland, the body which represents university principals, next month. His comments today indicate that he will be outspoken in his representation of the sector.

 

In light of the recent employment survey the principal moved to assuage graduates’ concerns about their prospects in the jobs market. 

 

“You might have read press coverage earlier this week claiming that almost 70 graduates are chasing every post, and that employers will reject anyone with less than an upper second,” he said.
 
“While stories such as this are worrying, you should know that the figures quoted represent only a relatively small number of large companies across the UK; they have no relevance for the thousands of small and medium-sized businesses and other organisations that employ the majority of graduates.

 

“The Confederation of British Industries has recently identified a predicted deficit in graduate numbers entering high technology, IT, manufacturing, science, engineering and management.  And in a recent letter to a major national newspaper, some of Britain’s most senior business leaders from companies including Shell, Network Rail, Centrica and GlaxoSmithKline, said that business looked to universities for graduate talent, research and innovation.  They urged the government to protect universities from severe cuts in funding in the next spending round.

 

“What no-one can deny is that you are still far more likely to get a job and have a long and rewarding career with a degree than without one.  The degrees you have received today represent a valuable investment in the future – both yours and society’s at large.”