There’s a bit of a hoo-hah today around the latest news on graduate employability in the UK. According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters, there are now on average almost 70 applicants for every graduate position available. So if you’ve just had your new degree minted, you have a 1 in 70 chance of getting a job that might somehow be related to anything you’ve just spent 3-4 years learning at university. Oh and a sting in the tail comes with the apparent fact that more recruiters than ever are now looking for a 2:1 or a first in the qualifications part of an applicant’s CV.

What does this say about the way we educate our young in this country? I was always uncomfortable with the “let’s get at least 50% of young people into university” mantra that Tony Blair & Gordon Brown spouted as their answer to making Britain more economically competitive in a globalised age where British workers have to compete with Indian, Chinese, European & American counterparts. I mean I’m sure it’s a worthy aim trying to raise the number of people who go to university. Education is one of the most powerful tools we have in improving people’s chances in life. But when more and more people are getting degrees, the law of markets (supply & demand) would suggest that the value of each degree would be reduced.

But alas, hundreds of thousands of young people over the last few years have gone to university and studied for degrees, ending up in a tight market with no work experience and tens of thousands of pounds in debt. Labour did “successfully” raise the number of people going to university: in 2001 only 20% of the population had a degree, but in 2007 that figure went up to 30.8%. But today’s anecdotal evidence reflects on the fact that there are too many graduates, and in a struggling economy, not enough jobs.

Perhaps our graduates are being spoiled and inflexible in demanding higher paying, more professional jobs simply because they have degrees. You can’t really blame them though, this is the system our politicians created. The chief executive of the Association of Graduate Recruiters suggested that graduates might want to be more flexible in their choice of jobs, and even encouraged some to consider working at places like McDonald’s (I can hear a gasp all across Middle England as I write this!). In the light of austerity Britain, his quote is quite apt “Any employment is better than no employment [even] if it’s about flipping burgers or stacking shelves rather than being sat at home feeling sorry for yourself and vegetating”. I do agree Mr. Gilleard, and indeed I worked at McDonald’s when I was unable to find more professional work, without an ounce of shame.

I left school at 16 with a lot of motivation and some good ICT skills. I later went into politics and I’ve been lucky enough to advise Prime Ministers, MPs, presidential candidates and government agencies. I can provide for my family, and I have good work options in the future. I managed all this without a degree. Today, hearing about the exasperations of 2010’s graduates, I have to admit to a pang of schadenfreude and remember all the naysayers in my life who tell me I can’t get to where I want because I don’t have a fancy degree. I’m already half way there, and at least I have a job.

The answer, in my opinion, lies in helping people to find alternative career paths which don’t require a degree. We should make education through primary and secondary better, by implementing the International Baccalaureate which provides a broad, challenging and internationally compatible curriculum. At the same time we should spend more time and money exploring how vocational careers can be developed from an early age. For this we should be looking at Switzerland & Sweden, as well as other countries, for lessons and pointers. One thing is for sure: New Labour’s model of pushing more and more people into university has only de-valued the idea of a degree and has left hundreds of thousands of educated, bright young things on the heap of unemployment. We need to look a-fresh at how we tackle this challenge if we’re to get anywhere near 10 Downing Street ever again.

@chrisjw133 & @clairee_french also wrote on this subject.

I dusted off my old copy of Art of War, one of the most influential books ever written. Art of War, written by Chinese general and military philosopher Sun Tzu in the 6th century BC, presents what is thought of as a bible for military strategists and generals through the centuries. It’s an amazing book and its wisdom can be extended well beyond the military sphere – into business, personal life and work. It’s incredibly foresighted and complete.

General Stanley McChrystal is the American Commander in Afghanistan and therefore the most senior military person in the most important theatre of war the United States is engaged with currently. He recently gave a series of interviews with Rolling Stone magazine in which he is painted mocking his seniors in Washington and America’s partners in France, and questioning the American strategy in Afghanistan. In the world we live in, where media and perception and image are all so important in foreign policy and in war, the image portrayed that the American administration/military is divided plays right into the hands of its enemies.

Reading and hearing these reports made me think of Sun Tzu’s writing. The Art of War is full of wisdom, but this little nugget is a joy to read today:

"The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom."

McChrystal’s vanity knows no bounds. He is the military Commander in Afghanistan. He invited Rolling Stone to follow him for a month. Rolling Stone follows rock stars, not generals. McChrystal’s loyalty should be to his Commander in Chief and his country, not to his own reputation and fame.

This quote calls into question the American model of combining political leadership and military leadership in one, very interesting:

"He whose generals are able and not interfered with by the sovereign will be victorious"

One other, not specifically about McChrystal but the war in general:

"There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare."

Pay attention Obama. Show you’re a real military leader. It’s time to get rid of Stanley McChrystal, and time to find an appropriate end to this nearly decade-long war.

Watch this until the end. Kay Burley is a ridiculous, unprofessional, Fox-news style witch. The poor guy didn’t know what hit him. She should have been a bit more courteous and accommodating to someone who isn’t a media professional… She isn’t even asking proper questions: just because 65% of the population voted for something doesn’t mean an organisation can’t organise a protest to ensure the politicians don’t forget the point! Horrid woman.