Demand for shorter, taught courses rises

17 Oct 2007

An article written by Miranda Green in the Financial Times, and released on 16 October 2007, looks at the long-term decline in PhDs. The article suggests that 'demand for shorter, taught courses and for less academic, more professionally-orientated postgraduate qualifications has risen'.

Professor Alison Richard, Vice Chancellor of Cambridge University, describes the rise as "a credentialising frenzy afoot". Giving a lecture on the future of graduate studies, Professor Richard observed: "These days...in all domains, we expect ability and accomplishment to come stamped and approved - and that means a proliferation of graduate degree courses." 

The Financial Times reports that virtual or distance-learning courses are on the rise too, allowing people to gain the qualification that will give them a step up the career ladder while they are earning. Often they can convince bosses to pay some or all of the fees, either through a formal traineeship or as a reward for demonstrating drive and ambition.

The Sussex Learning Network is developing flexible opportunities to study in a number of vocational areas, as well as exploring the potential of virtual learning environments through its e-learning project. The SLN's Employer zone is packed with useful information, case studies and fact sheets about vocational higher education.