IS A UNIVERSITY DEGREE STILL ENOUGH?

For generations, obtaining a university degree was regarded as one of the most reliable routes to professional success. A qualification demonstrated knowledge, discipline and the ability to complete demanding academic work.

A degree remains valuable.

But its function in the labour market is changing.

Employers increasingly distinguish between having knowledge and being able to use it.

Imagine two applicants.

Candidate A has excellent academic results but little practical experience. Candidate B has slightly lower grades but has completed internships, contributed to projects, volunteered, worked in teams and developed strong communication skills.

Who is more employable?

There is no universal answer.

For professions such as medicine, engineering, psychology or law, formal qualifications may be essential. Employers cannot simply replace professional standards with enthusiasm.

Nevertheless, qualifications increasingly represent only one component of employability.

Employers may also assess whether candidates can solve problems, communicate clearly, adapt to change, collaborate with colleagues and learn independently.

This has produced growing interest in transferable skills.

A student who organizes a volunteer project, for example, may develop project management, leadership, budgeting, negotiation and communication skills even if the activity is not directly connected with their future profession.

The labour market is also changing faster than many educational programmes.

A technical skill considered highly valuable today may become partly automated within several years.

This does not make education irrelevant.

It makes the ability to continue learning increasingly important.

Perhaps the most useful way to think about higher education is therefore not:

“My degree will give me a career.”

but:

“My education gives me a foundation from which I can build one.”

Grading method: Highest grade

Grade to pass: 6.00 out of 10.00