(my contribution to the discussion on the government halting the partial funding for those people who want to study at undergraduate level, although they already have a first degree...)
As someone working with young people I believe it is necessary to have a wider spectrum of skills and knowledge rather than specialist knowledge in one area. I chose to specialise in English at degree level because that was what was needed to achieve my goal to become an English teacher - there was a shortage of these at the time I was studying. But I also discovered I was interested in: social psychology, biopsychology, philosophy, economics and sociology as well as my specialist curriculum subject area. I have been learning about these subjects in a number of ways, one of which is studying university courses at undergraduate level; sadly these part time courses now cost at least a third more than they did before the funding was withdrawn which is making me think twice about signing up for them.
Now, many people would say that it is time for me to move on to postgraduate education and stop wasting my time on undergraduate studies. But as a societal need, I believe we need some people to be educated across a much broader knowledge base. This can only be achieved through access to certificate/diploma/degree courses at the undergraduate level. Specialisms are all well and good but the breakthroughs and new innovations generally come from the bringing together of different disciplines - denying graduates and even PhDs the funding to bring a new focus to their work can only deter some from doing it - and who knows what we might lose.
We need to change minds somehow…
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