the UK is stupid to encourage 40,000 to got to uni and write Media studies essays?

[Marchbirthday]

My eldest DS has told me that 40,000 students each year are taking Media Studies courses. He signed up for a very practical hands on course which we hope will enable him to fix stuff, wire stuff, film stuff, record sound, understand cabling and editing. He's done very well on the practical stuff but will get the lowest mark because his essay writing skills are poor. He doesn't want to be a film critic, or writer. There aren't 40,000 jobs in the media industry, and don't we need practical technical people not more writers?

Media studies is not an easy option. DD2=s friend did this at colege and worked very hard. She is now going to do a degree in media studies. It is not just about writing essays although it is important to be able to write reports and essay type things in a lot of jobs.
Young peaople should be able to chosse to study something they are good at.

Can I just interject (confessing slight bias as a social scientist...) that Social Policy is NOT a fluffy option btw. Don't do yourself down pamelat.

If we didn't have social policy graduates, we wouldn't have social policy research. If we didn't have social policy research, we wouldn't have social policy. If we don't have social policy, we're fucked.

My sister did media sudies, and ended up working for Playboy TV! (behind camera) She recalls that she saw her first ever blowjob during her interview. Not really what she aspired to.

feeling dense here, but why would we be fucked without social policy? what is it?

feeling dense here, but why would we be fucked without social policy? what is it?

is it not just economics and politics?

Social policy is the study of public interventions made by governments and relate agencies to make a difference to our lives.

Typically it is studied on a macro scale (eg what difference does or would pension reform or a change in policy on children) make a difference?

It has a quite different remit to economics or politics which have a strong disciplinary history whereas policy uses a number of different disciplines, including those, but also psychology, sociology etc. to provide an overview. Social policy is 'done' on a day to day basis in govt research, in voluntary agencies, in thinktanks; and the academic research and study that supports this provides important evaluation studies and new ideas to feed change and improve services.

I thank you. (Jeez, I'm not even a social policy researcher)

WilfSell

I think quite a few of us would like to know where the social policy boffins were when the possible effect of the withdrawal of the 10% tax band was being discussed ?

My first question when I first heard of that little gem was......

"but what about working people on low incomes ?"

and I'm definately not a social policy researcher.

Well it wouldn't be the first time governments have implemented something stupid while ignoring sensible advice from policy researchers!

As someone pointed out a few posts ago, media studies graduates do actually have a good rate of employment. And (from the same research), physics graduates have one of the highest rates of graduate unemployment.

I think people can be a bit inconsistent in arguing that there should be less of the media studies type courses and more practical trainig.

You could argue that media studies is a more practical application of the classical English degree, similarly social policy is a more practical application of the slightly more traditional sociology or psychology degree. And engineering is a practical application of physics.

though personally I wouldn't touch a media studies degree with a bargepole, nor any other degree with "studies" in the title. but these types of newer degrees, often in the newer universities, are catering both to demand from students and to what employers want.

And it depends on the job at the end of it. £20k a year for life is a job but might not be what some people want to earn.