The government has confirmed it will introduce a cap on ‘low-value’ degrees that it believes are ripping off students and taxpayers.
This follows a sharp rise in “rip-off” degrees and further education/specialist courses, which are often offered by institutions with little or no reputation. These degrees can be expensive and may not be recognised by employers. If your employees are partaking in any further education, it’s worth taking heed of the below advice before signing up to a course and, of course, before parting with money, so that your business doesn’t end up out of pocket for what are being called ‘scam’ courses and degrees.
To avoid falling victim to a “rip-off” degree, it’s advised to check the reputation of the institution, making sure that the degree is accredited, and being aware of the cost of the degree.
Checking whether a course is legitimate
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) can provide guidance on whether or not a degree is legitimate.
The government plans to ask the Office for Students (OfS) to limit the number of students that universities can recruit onto courses that are not delivering good outcomes for students.
According to the Department for Education (DfE), courses with poor outcomes have high drop-out rates, do not lead to good jobs, and leave young people with poor pay and high debts.
The OfS would be given the power to limit the number of students that universities can recruit onto these courses, or even to close them down altogether.
This is part of the government’s plan to improve the quality of higher education in the UK and to ensure that students get a good return on their investment.
Here are some additional details about the plans:
- The OfS would be given a new set of metrics to assess the quality of courses. These metrics would include things like drop-out rates, graduate employment rates, and average salaries.
- The OfS would be able to limit the number of students that universities can recruit onto courses that are not meeting the new metrics.
- The OfS would also be able to close down courses that are consistently failing to meet the new metrics.
The government hopes that these plans will help to improve the quality of higher education in the UK and to ensure that students get a good return on their investment.
Key points:
- “Rip-off” degrees are often offered by institutions with little or no reputation.
- These degrees can be expensive and may not be recognised by employers.
- There are a number of things that you can do to avoid falling victim to a “rip-off” degree.
- If you are still unsure about whether or not a degree is legitimate, you can contact NACE for guidance.
Hiring apprentices rather than graduates
Apprentices are typically more cost effective to hire than graduates for an SME. The government provides financial support for employers who take on apprentices, which can help to offset the costs of training. Apprentices are typically eager to learn and to gain experience, which can make them more productive employees.
Apprentices are more likely to stay with their employers after they have completed their training. This is because they have developed a strong relationship with their employer and have a vested interest in the company’s success.
Apprentices can bring new ideas and perspectives to the workplace. They’re often exposed to a wider range of experiences than graduates, which can help them to think more creatively and solve problems in new ways.
We can offer Apprentice contracts, junior contracts and bespoke employment advice to employers.
To stay in the loop with what’s happening in UK HR, Employment Law and Health & Safety, check us out on Instagram & LinkedIn, we post every weekday! We specialise in supporting UK businesses like yours, get in touch today on 0161 603 2156 or email us at [email protected] to see how we can help your business flourish…
