Monday, 28 March 2011

Join the Debate: Do you need a degree to succeed?


A Twitter debate today, sparked by Stylist Magazine, raised the question once again of whether in the current climate a degree is necessary to succeed in a career. The recent developments in tuition fees and the over subscription of university places aside, in the current difficult job market is a degree the best way to get the job you want? 

The Twitter debate showed a diverse reaction to the question; 

@Kanizxx: “I'm proud of my degree I think it shows dedication, commitment. Also skills such as research,writing,analysing, presenting”

@hkayjay “Interesting that many women now change career in 30s/40s + set up own business unrelated to degree”

@alihax “Unless it's a requirement in the career you've picked eg. medicine or law, a degree is just a help - success is up to you!”

At Fashion Antidote we believe that, in the fashion industry at least, a degree is not mandatory to success, and is in fact one of the reasons Fashion Antidote was set up in the first place. We believe that fashion education leaves something to be desired, with many students we have encountered leaving degrees unsatisfied and in debt, having gone to University because they were unaware of other options.

 In such a competitive, creative and ever-changing field, expert skills and motivation take precedent over a qualification. For some, a degree is the perfect way to gain these skills and get the foot in the door to the career they want, but not for everyone; vocational courses like the ones we at Fashion Antidote offer, or internships and work experience can be just as valuable and beneficial.

 We want to provide an alternative, professional level fashion education without the debt or commitment of a degree. If you have a passion for learning, a need to gain skills and a desire to get into the fashion industry, you don’t necessarily need to embark upon a degree to get where you want to be.

What do you think? Follow us on Twitter, join the debate - @fashion_antidot @stylistmagazine #lunchtimedebate

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