An examination of the importance of going onto higher education and the impact that has on employability?

I am outlet to explore to what fulfilment does be university (higher(prenominal) education) curb an impact on the ammonium alums employability. There atomic number 18 three sub look top dogs I depart be focusing on. Firstly, I leave alone be analysing the benefits and problems there be of spill onto university in the hope of increasing employability. In order, to do this I go away be identifying the germane(predicate) corpus of academic and constitution related to literary productions and documentation concerning university and employability.The reason for this is that it is vital to realise that its still consequential to assess existing knowledge thats associated with education and compare it with my question. Secondly, I volition be focusing on to what extent has investing in a full point and other financial costs such as fitting for example with release onto university has achieved the bankd tabucome for degree haves. To rise out this selective data, I give be looking at degree graduates, and how they guess their employability has affected their employability.Finally, I will be looking at how 18 forms not red ink onto HE, to what extent has that helped their desired outcome. I am now going to briefly rationalise the structure of my report. I will now provide a critical lit review analysing policy documents and academic literature and review what others gull done. This will show how my research fits in with what others feed done virtually my subject. This is my first research nonsubjective as Ive mentioned earlier. I will then explain my research leap out and methodology used to gather and analyse data. After, I film discrete my methodological approach I will then report my research results.I will undertake a critical analysis of usual perceptions and carry out a small study, and provide evidence in my appendix to verify my research results. I will then address my findings in a critical manner and relate my results back to the literature material. In my ethical form under proposed methodology, I mentioned that I would find out information by not only questionnaires and face-to-face interviews, exclusively also surveys. I receive decided not to do surveys and face-to-face interviews the reason macrocosm is that it is precise difficult to access surveys associated to my area of study.Moreover, the fourth dimension and money spent on getting this information would hinder m being spent on my study. Therefore, as a result I have decided to exclude the use of surveys in my research. I am not doing face-to-face interviews because of the availability of time for other students to be visible(prenominal) to resolution questions. In order, to resolve this problem I am going to add open-ended questions in my questionnaire to get insight. Progressing onto university (higher education) mickle greatly promote wherever you want to go in the future.The reason for this is, that it illustrates to empl oyers the ability to memorise information in a specialised subject. (Directgov. 2005. The benefits of higher education online Available from http//www. direct. gov. uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/index. htm Accessed 3 Jan 2007) Therefore, this impasses to reason graduates coming out of university and take parting employment will have higher earning potential to those who dont go on to higher education. However, in a report in the cable it stated that a 3rd of university graduates are in jobs that do not require a degree in 2004-05.This brings out the question does it really kindle career prospects? In the same name, Boris Johnson says about a degree. It is a wonderful thing to have irrespective of the kind of job you are doing. I am very critical of this statement because the main reason of going into higher education is to enhance your career. What is the point of attaining a degree, if it doesnt? (Smith. H 25th July 2006 terce of graduates in non -graduate jobs Telegraph online Available from http//www. telegraph. co. uk/news/main. jhtml? xml=/news/2006/07/23/nuni. xml Accessed seventeenth declination 2006) Is it chasten from degree graduates to find difficulty in finding graduate jobs and fall into non-graduate jobs?In which they could of premiseed prior going to university and without the associated financial costs? I become to find out the value of a degree in the economic market and whether it is actually worth it considering the New repulses arse of 50% for 18-25 year olds to enter HE. The more than graduates flooding the market, the less graduate jobs would be available? There are contrasting views of going into higher education.The article written by Directgov provides a biased view of higher education, in my opinion. The reason being is that Directgov is a site produced by the Central world power of Information, associated with the government. As a result, it will would emphasis the benefits of the HE, and t hey would do this to reach their target of 50%. In contrast, to the telegraph newspaper, there could be a angle of dip to over exaggerate words and statistics, in order to engage the rear and boost sales. I have chosen this topic of research as education as it affects not only me but also quite a little around me.I am investing my time and money in a degree in the hope of attaining a qualification, which will enhance my career prospects, but in the current climate, it may not. Therefore, which is the best driveway for a successful career (a graduate/non-graduate) and does it matter? I will explore and come up with conclusions to these questions later on in my report, by collecting and analysing information. I will be gathering both decimal and qualitative data. valued data is data in which can be categorised and have a numerical relationship.Whereas, qualitative data the information cant be categorised numerically, the data type is unstructured and may gather up long sentenc es. (Becker S and Bryman A. 2004. Understanding research for social policy and practise pp 403-4) Quantitative research illustrates indicators to act as a measure that can stand for a point. Therefore, it can show relationships amid variables (independent and dependent. ) For example, if the taxes are increased these would recollect that there would be more financial muscle for prevalent services.The questionnaires that the people fill in will help provide this type of information and to show correlations between variables. In contrast, to qualitative data where the main aim is to understand peoples beliefs, values and behaviour. The qualitative data I will watch from face to face interviews will help me to explain the quantitative data. (Becker S and Bryman A. 2004. Understanding research for social policy and practise pp 92-7) I am going to ask ten people who are graduates and that are a non-graduate on their views on higher education.This will aid me into find finding or so conclusions on this issue. There is a different questionnaire for graduates and non-graduates . The questionnaires are available in the appendix. Prior to giving out my questionnaires I had to pre test these questions to check that they are as clear as possible. I did this by asking the planetary public on their views and amending all necessary faults in the questions. I have to reassure the sample of respondents that I will not disclose any personal details and that the research details will remain confidential.In my questionnaire, I didnt ask for their name, as I pull in that it is of no relevant to the study. I am now going to discuss the results I have discovered in my research. In the first section of the questionnaire, I have included a question about the respondents ethnicity. In my opinion, this is a question worth asking, because of evidence being illustrated that there is a trend. Gary Craig, professor of accessible Justice in 2002, interviewed 16-18 year olds about th eir experiences of not being in education. Of the 64 young people interviewed, 41 were of African- Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin. Craig G and Britton L. 2002. Missing connexions? Bristol/York The policy press 4 (2) p. 39-41) This is backed up by my research as, only 10% of the university graduates I interviewed were dumb. Despite, the figures the research done by Gary Craig, cant be completely related to my research as he interviewed the 16-18 year old sept. Despite, Gary Craig focusing on a different age category to me (18 and onwards), the issue of the high number of African Caribbean not going onto HE, in comparison to other ethnic groups, stems from an early age.An article in the clock shows that only 27% of African- Caribbean achieve five or more GCSEs at grades A*-C. (Baldwin T. 13 March 2005 Its not race that keeps black boys back The measure online also available from http//www. timesonline. co. uk/tol/comment/article426390. ece Accessed 2nd January 2008) In the same article it is mentioned that Trevor Phillips the chairman of the commission for racial equality. He did an experiment and found that black boys performed 12% better from all different races. This has sure to raises eyebrows with comprehensive alternate schools.In 1956, labour politician Anthony Crosland, introduced the idea that the pupils in secondary schools be streamed into separate classes according to their academic ability. In my opinion, with the influence of Trevor Phillipss findings, I view we should question the way the pupil are streamed. (Alcock P. 2003 Social Policy in Britain, Second edition pp. 44-5) The reasons why graduates decided to go to university were to increase their chances of employability, higher earning potential and enhance personal development, as I expected.Whereas, the non-graduates suggested that they didnt have the depicted object and motivation to stay in education any further. They also snarl that they werent getting anything ou t of the years they had stayed in education before they left. In 2006, a study from the department for education and skills (DfES) found that the earnings between graduates and being educate at A Level is 45%. (Prospects race Service Desk. How do graduates and non-graduates salaries compare? Available at http//www. prospects. ac. k/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Main_menu___Research/Labour_market_information/Labour_market_FAQs/How_do_graduate_and_non_graduate_salaries_compare_/p elkFpLgjsessionid=a630e2bd2c3b6b3225f1 Accessed 2nd January) The public perception of the benefits of going onto HE still clay and is clearly shown in my research. In the second question, I asked the respondents to answer on a scale of 1-10 to answer how had a university degree helped their career. The mean answer yielded a value of 8. 7, in comparison to the non-graduates with a value of 4. 5. This shows that the public are aware of the benefits and importance of HE.The reasons included that the graduates matt -up they took their education as far as they can, to enable them with to have the best opportunities as possible. unrivalled candidate actually mentioned Labours government target of 50% of 18-25 year olds going into HE, which meant the value of a degree, is still invaluable. In contrast, to the non-graduates they stated that since they didnt follow done with education, they were left with limited opportunities that have affected their career. 60% of the candidates mentioned that they were always going to be second best to those who gone into HE.Despite, all the benefits of going into HE, in the current climate it is difficult to find jobs for graduates. In the article, in the telegraph it mentioned that over a third of graduates were in jobs in which they couldnt see the benefits of being a graduate in the first place. (Smith. H 25th July 2006 Third of graduates in non-graduate jobs Telegraph online Available from http//www. telegraph. co. uk/news/main. jhtml? xml=/news/2006/07/2 3/nuni. xml Accessed 17th December 2006). My research illustrates this point as only 40% of the graduates felt that they have been helped with investing in HE.The remaining felt that their university degree hasnt helped them as yet, but will do in the long run. The graduates have belief with the opportunities of HE, despite being in a current role, in which they couldnt see the benefits of HE. 95% of the total respondents would recommend an 18 year old to enter HE. The graduates felt that it is essential for personal development, two candidates mentioned to find yourself. Going onto university does have many benefits, like expanding you social scene, encompassingening horizons and learning more about the world we live in.These benefits help graduates in choosing the right and suitable class they want to go in terms of a job, because of the job prospects. In my opinion and my research shows this is that HE is important in the economic market. The literature documents I have used , doesnt mention the class of students who got inaugural, 2. 1 etc. This could explain why graduates were in non-graduate jobs. The research they have provided could have been more extensively. As we all know, the majority of university students are not going to get first class degree, as a result, they may not get their desire job.The job market has become such a competitive, as more and more students are going into HE. Therefore, it is becoming increasing likely that graduate jobs are going to be offered to those who have graduated with a 1st class from a top university. This raises the issue, why is the government raising the knowledge fees and still wants people to go into HE? Is it right for someone who is attending university with the exception of Oxford pay the same fees? These are issues, which still need to be considered, because of university league tables.The university league tables have enabled employers to judge how well universities are doing. Therefore, is it rig ht that the university which is last in the table be paying the same fees as the university at the top, whilst the job opportunities would be reduced? This area is very broad and brings about different questions, which still need to be looked. When New Labour took over they said their priorities is education education education. Blair was quoted, as saying he wants to still technocratic values, in which he wants the country to be as educated as possible, which in turn would have a positive deed on the economy.To what extent does attending university have an effect on the graduates employability? From my research, I have gathered that HE does help you in terms of employability, to what extent? It depends on the individual, if they are attending at a good university and enter the job market with a good class degree. There is no reason that the HE, can increase employability and the individuals career. The full extensive benefits of HE can be seen, if the individual makes use of this education to the best of their ability. It all depends on the individual.