Over the next couple of weeks, thousands of kids on the Island will head off to university for the first time. It鈥檚 an exciting prospect 鈥� finalizing course selection, hunting for accommodation, starting friendships that may last a lifetime.
But it also brings a critical choice, because the course of study they pick will go a long way to determining their future income.
It鈥檚 well known that a training in one of the employment-oriented fields, such as business, computer science or engineering, often leads to better pay.
A new study by CIBC confirms that fact. Throughout the economic downturn, graduates in these areas have kept their earnings lead.
Strikingly, however, the same cannot be said for the traditional academic subjects 鈥� arts, social science and the humanities. The study found that over the last decade, graduates in these fields have lost ground.
They still earn more than holders of high school or college diplomas. But the gap has narrowed significantly. Nearly 50 per cent of this group now make less than the national median income.
That鈥檚 a disappointing outcome, considering the significant investment of time and money that goes into a four-year baccalaureate degree. Tuition fees alone are at least $20,000, and residence fees can easily double this amount.
Compare that with a college diploma. Camosun charges $3,186 for an eight-month training as a health-care aide, and graduates of that program can earn a starting salary and benefits of $50,000.
Money, of course, isn鈥檛 everything. For some kids, a degree in English or history is a life鈥檚 dream. And some of them go on to run major corporations and ministries of government.
Yet there are hard questions that need asking. Nearly two-thirds of university students end up in general baccalaureate programs that often generate a lower income. Why is that?
At the University of sa国际传媒, for instance, more kids study music than dentistry; twice as many enrol in fine arts as computer science.
Part of the reason, no doubt, is that vocational subjects have a challenging reputation. Strong math skills are often needed, and that scares some students away.
In addition, professional schools such as medicine and law charge more, and require a higher grade-point average for admission.
But that鈥檚 not the whole answer. It appears lots of students do, in fact, want to enrol in vocational programs. Unfortunately, many are turned away for lack of room.
At the University of Victoria, for example, there is huge student interest in engineering. More seats have been added. But admission standards are also being raised, because the department can鈥檛 cope with demand.
Practically speaking, this makes no sense. There are jobs aplenty for graduates of this program, and well-paid jobs at that. Yet a stunning 40 per cent of new practising engineers in sa国际传媒 are foreign-educated, because local kids can鈥檛 get the training.
The same situation exists in other profitable fields, such as computer science and health management. And it鈥檚 not confined to sa国际传媒
sa国际传媒-wide, students are being shut out of top-level careers because our universities are underfunding the programs that a modern economy demands.
It鈥檚 easy to overstate this complaint. Society is well served by the liberal arts, and a broad approach to higher learning is essential.
But there is a problem here with balance. Some shifting of resources is needed.
The provincial government is aware of the concern. There is talk of setting enrolment targets for vocational courses, and requiring universities to match intake more closely with the needs of the job market.
This may be resisted on campus. It treads rather heavily on longstanding views about academic freedom.
But we owe our young people the best possible start in life.
As things stand, too many are denied that opportunity.
