The need for a degree?

Currently I am in my 4th year of studying for a degree in Product Design Engineering at Glasgow University and Glasgow School of Art. Now this course is truly fantastic. Well, mostly, the standard of teaching can vary and I often think I learn more when working for a local haulage firm during my spare time.  This brings me back to my post about skilled manufacture. What way, what path is most likely to provide a successful outcome? I chose the university route for a number of reasons but the main reason was that it was understood that the only way to truly succeed professionally is to get a degree. That is what we are all taught at school it seems. Now, in my 4th year I am questioning that fact. Here is a list of pros and cons in my opinion:

University study path

Pros:

• If looking for a job with engineering for example, many employers specify the requirement for a degree in engineering .
• Access to a range of facilities and equipment.
• Time to gain a better understanding of what exactly you want to do. I am proof of that fact actually. I selected this degree as I wanted to be an engineer with and edge towards designing totally new products and systems. Now though I am more keen on designing products, businesses and services which much less of a focus on engineering. Although, the engineering understanding will be invaluable to me in future years i suspect.

Cons:

• Takes up 4 or 5 or more years. This time could probably be used more productively. Hense why I try to fill my spare time doing other productive stuff .
• Quality of your skill can largely depend on the teaching you receive and your willingness to learn. How can this be summed up on a piece of paper. This gives me cause for concern.
• I found that you learn loads of stuff that quickly becomes useless as too much emphasis is put on learning the the content rather than getting to put it to actual use and thus I do not feel xonfident with my engineering skills.

Straight into work

Pros:

• Learn how to actually do stuff in a practical and useful sense.
• learn from the best: the people currently practicing in that business/area.
• Get paid… always nice.

Cons:

• Once you are in that job/industry it may be difficult to get out. I may have found this a bit more of a problem.
• Your learning is much less broad.
• In general it can be more restricting and blinkered.

However, one of my earlier posts may just reveal the ideal solution: An Apprenticeship! As discussed the apprenticeship seems to provide the perfect balance between learning and experience. I know this works well as I see many of my friends who have been through apprenticeships doing very well and they all talk well of their decision to go down that route. I think we need to be encouraging apprenticeships. In many, if not most cases the benefits of an apprenticeship out way by far the benefits of just getting a job or commiting to uni.  Maybe I will explore how better to do this.