These days our students have to work on much more than their studies

Last updated 16:12, Monday, 26 May 2008

It was made plain to me and my fellow undergraduates when we arrived as new students at university in the early 1970s that, irrespective of any wishes we may have to the contrary, we were not permitted to undertake any paid employment during term time.

If we did take on paid work that would be contrary to the regulations of the university and we would run the risk of being excluded.

The context of that time was rather different from today.

Students had no liability for any tuition fees, reasonably generous maintenance awards were available for the majority of students and it was quite normal to take up paid employment during vacations.

There were few part-time students in the higher education system.

Today, of course, the world has changed significantly.

The numbers of students in the higher education system has expanded tenfold, tuition fees in excess of £3,000 per year are payable by full-time students and the arrangements for student maintenance awards are very different.

An elaborate framework for the making and repayment of student loans is in place and most universities employ money advisers to assist students in managing their finances, often in difficult situations.

It is hardly surprising, in the current environment, that very many students need to take paid employment of one form or another throughout their student career in order to help fund themselves during their time at university.

Any parent will know that the financial pressures on young people are considerably greater than when they were the same age and will also know how difficult it is for students to make ends meet during the period of their study.

Traditionalists will argue that it is not desirable that full-time students should take on paid work at the same time as they are studying.

Various arguments will be used to justify that position, but essentially they will boil down to the view that a student will not get the most out of his or her studies if they are distracted by the demands of part-time employment.

I do not agree with the traditionalist perspective for three reasons:

First, the financial pressures on students are a fact of life. If students are not able to help fund their own lifestyle then it would deter potential students from entering higher education.

Second, everyone has to make choices in life as to how they spend their time. A student can work hard and effectively at their studies and still have sufficient space in their lives to take on part-time work. It should be up to the individual student to decide how they spend the time outside their studies.

Third, and most important of all, a student who can show a future employer once they have graduated that they have the capacity to succeed at their studies as well as having made a direct financial contribution, through paid employment, towards funding their studies and their lifestyle, will strengthen their career prospects.

Employers are impressed by organised people who do not waste their time, who take a responsible approach to life as a student, and who may have developed additional skills in a working environment.

The world undoubtedly was different in my undergraduate days.

The demands on young people today are more intense than used to be the case, and the competitive world into which they graduate is formidably demanding.

The benefits of the experience of paid employment during their student days will help, not hinder, their capacity to meet those demands.