There is a view that getting a tertiary education is the best way to be successful. While some say university education can provide job and networking opportunities, others argue that it is unnecessary and a waste of resources in today’s economy. I believe there are enough possibilities without a university degree.
Proponents of university education think that it gives employment opportunities. Many companies only hire qualified professionals, meaning university graduates can have privileges, when applying for their desired job compared to non-graduates. They may also enjoy greater job security during layoff periods. Moreover, professional connections is another benefit of academic education. During studies, a person can meet like-minded people, which can come in handy in professional career. For example, people with good connections usually have faster career advancement regardless of their field.
On the other hand, despite the advantages of university education, drawbacks should not be overlooked, with the main one being time and money wastage. As there are many free or cheaper alternatives to a university degree, pursuing it can be a waste of resources. People can acquire skills using online platforms, instead of spending 4 years at the university. YouTube and Udemy can be a good case in point, where there are countless cost-free lessons.
Therefore, I would argue that degree programs are,to some extent, redundant in the current era. With the rise of gig economy, people are no longer required to have any degrees as they can find remote jobs. Companies usually try to have employees who have skills even if they do not have a diploma. Programmers, for instance, scout for positions online where they can be offered a position even by international companies.
In conclusion, although higher education can have positives, namely career prospects and networking, I hold an opinion that it is a misuse of capital and there are enough positions on job markets that do not demand qualifications.