Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Dream Factories

Why Universities Won't Solve the Youth Jobs Crisis

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
Two professors look at the mystique around universities and the consequences of "credentialism."
For decades, we have promoted the idea that a university degree is a passport to future career success. Ken Coates and Bill Morrison argue that the over-promotion of higher education and university degrees is actually undermining the lives of young people, saddling them with enormous debts, and costing governments huge amounts of money.
As the young flock to universities in ever-increasing numbers, fewer of them than ever find the elusive "good jobs" that they are pursuing. In fact, many of those jobs no longer exist. We are in the midst of a youth employment crisis that is global in proportion, and we are facing serious misunderstandings about the unfolding career prospects for young adults entering a world of rapid technological change. Ken Coates and Bill Morrison explore the impacts of universities turning out graduates with the wrong skills, and the consequences of vanishing job opportunities.
  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      June 9, 2014
      In this era of a globalization, crushing student debt, and credential inflation, university is not for everyone. So argue authors Coates (Arctic Front) and Morrison (Campus Confidential) in a book aimed at convincing college-age readers to reconsider the value of university education in a modern world where "achievement has become the exception rather than the norm." Coates and Morrison somewhat crudely divide students into camps of "curious" book learners built for the academic track, and the intellectually uncurious "swarm." The authors implore young Canadiansâespecially the "swarm"âto examine their true interests and consider non-university options such as polytechnics, community colleges, and skilled trades. The book includes helpful chapters covering polytechnic preparation, volunteerism, and the value of physical labour. Coates and Morrison's style is accessible, and they make important points about the shifting job market and the devaluing of university diplomas, but dividing students into the "curious" and the "swarm" overlooks different learning styles. It may be beyond this book's scope, but it's worth asking if some students struggle due to outdated university curriculums that are in need of change. After all, when people say "university isn't for everyone," they often mean everyone but themselves.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading