Degree of realism

IT is clear, as taxpayers come to terms with the grimness of the Budget, that the whole country is going to have to become far more pragmatic and start thinking outside the box.

One such example is Bradford University's new degree course. Unlike the last government, which believed that the introduction of two-year courses could meet the increased demand for places, this Yorkshire institution wants to extend some courses to four years.

Yet it is the logical thinking behind this initiative that makes the scheme so refreshing. By doing so, it believes students can combine their studies, with part-time jobs and work placements, so they are not mired in debt when they graduate and unable to afford a home of their own.

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As well as appealing to those students, from low income households, who cannot afford to go to university because of the cost of tuition fees and living expenses, it also offers students the chance to build up relationships with potential employers while they study.

Given the number of Yorkshire graduates who now find themselves on the dole queue, it is another reason why the Bradford Way initiative appears to be timely – if, that is, the Budget creates sufficient jobs for future graduates.

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