University challenge
Sir : Stuart Maclure, in his article 'University challenge' in your 31 May issue, speaks of students' uncertainty of the future after graduation, particularly those studying social sciences and arts. He says he hardly dares to talk about the stimulus of vocational aims. Dare on, Stuart Maclure! Among the forty- five universities that he expects to be chal- lenged, I would hesitate to include the new technological universities. These have had little or no 'disturbance.' There are, I think, two main reasons: 1. The students are, in the main, engineers, applied scientists and mathematicians who are, in general, more down to earth and practical than arts types (although some of them, as a former student told me, are downright dull!).
2. The technological universities have a large number of sandwich-course students, spending six months each year in industry working with adults on adult jobs. Many are sponsored by firms and have an assured future, degree or not, although success may come more quickly as a result of graduation.
S. G. Dixon 7 Elm Grove, North Harrow, Middlesex
Previous page
