Voices
Universities a preparation for life, not just work
By Zhang Ling (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-25 08:09
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Although China's employment situation is showing some signs of improvement, graduates still face tough competition for jobs this year.
Five college graduates in Jinan recently fended off challenge by 386 other candidates in an extremely rigorous testing process - just to get jobs as sanitary cleaners.
They join the ranks of unemployed graduates turning to jobs such as pork seller and nanny. "People always say knowledge and education can change a person's destiny, but now I am totally confused," confessed one netizen, as the fierce competition for jobs stirs much online debate.
It is true that there are graduates who are either unemployed or underemployed, but expectations persist that graduates will land a good job and make a decent living.
While the Jinan graduates may consider their actions a practical real-world decision, that is not the majority view.
According to a QQ.com survey of 60,000 people, 82 percent of respondents said they disagreed with the Jinan graduates' job choice, while only 12 percent were supportive.
The job market may be tough for graduates these days simply because there are now so many of them.
In 1978 just 1.4 percent of the population went to college. Now it's 23 percent, according to official statistics. In 2020 there may be as many as 200 million people in China with at least a bachelor's degree.
As a result, more graduates have little choice but to accept internships or other extended work experience programs with no pay.
Quite often these unpaid internships do not lead to jobs. One of my good friends in Beijing is still struggling for a formal job, not just another internship, after graduating two years ago.
This is not an isolated case. It is disappointing to see people who have more than 20 years of education unemployed.
Some experts believe graduates' professional capabilities don't meet prospective employers' demands.
That might explain why vocational training in Beijing is now in such acute demand, as an increasing number of graduates choose to pursue a variety of training programs to enhance their technical and practical skills, regardless of the tuition fees.
In the short term, maybe the training courses can help graduates find a job.
However, in the long run, we should get back to the basics and rethink the meaning of a higher education, what is the purpose of four-years of university life? Why not undertake the training programs directly?
Surely there is far more value to education than just preparing for work. The benefits of learning at a higher educational institution go much further than job opportunities.
While in university, students broaden their horizons and cultivate their learning capabilities.
These skills are far more important than any technical working skills that can be acquired through training programs.
Qualifications prove that you have successfully completed an academic course, however less tangible benefits, such as effective social skills, cooperation and independent judgment are also acquired and applied during higher education. These are also essential to succeed in any work environment.
